It is estimated that around 2 million properties in the UK – or about 8% of the total land area – are at risk from flooding. Changes in hydrology from human activity, climate change and previous decisions on settlement and land use have increased the potential risk of fluvial floods. Local authorities seek to mitigate this problem by ensuring that flood risk is taken into account in the planning of new developments or regeneration projects.

Where flood risk and surface water drainage issues are a factor in a proposed development, it is normal procedure to undertake an appropriate Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) to accompany any Planning Application. A FRA is carried out in conjunction with the guidelines set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 ‘Development and Flood Risk’ (PPG25).

Buro Happold carries out FRA’s on projects ranging from small developments to large strategic assessments on major urban regeneration schemes sited on flood plains. Our specialist engineers are experienced at carrying out FRA’s that involve a number of services, including negotiation of terms, hydrological modelling, hydraulic analysis, flood plain compensation measures and surface water runoff calculations.

We have built up good working relationships with the Environment Agency and the Planning Authorities to facilitate a greater understanding of this developing field. Furthermore, our rivers, flood and drainage engineers have the specialist skills needed to produce reliable, high quality reports. These include GIS and 12d, both of which assist in flood plain mapping, mitigation calculations and detailed designs.

Thanks to our considered approach and careful methodology, a high proportion of the applications submitted by our clients that involve FRA’s are granted planning consent. Working closely with other specialist teams within Buro Happold’s Infrastructure group, we have delivered practical solutions on a wide variety of complex projects around the world, in often sensitive and difficult environments.