Flood risk zones

[colmjude]

Flood risk zones

Zones in the UK are given a flood risk level. Usually 1, 2 or 3, with 3 being the most at risk.

We recently heard about flood risk zone 3bs. We think these zones are designated by Local planning authorities but we need to find out for sure.

Instead of treating each zone level as a separate thing we decided to combine them into one 'planning consideration' called Flood risk zones.

Why (are we looking at this)

Flood risk areas are one of the things planning officers look at when assessing a planning application. They are a constraint that are tackled in successful applications.

For anyone to innovate and create software and services that help users with planning applications they will need to be able to access up-to-date and accurate flood risk zone data.

What we've looking for

We want to know more about:

• how flood risk zones are used?
• what decisions are made using flood risk zones?
• if you use the flood risk zone data now, how do you use it?
• is there anything missing?
• what do you know about flood risk zone 3bs - how are they create, by whom and how are they used?
• is there anything else you think we should know about flood risk zones?

[kieranwint]

Through some of the initial research on Flood Risk Zone 1, we understand that any areas not covered by Flood Risk Zones 2 and 3 (3a/3b) are classed as Zone 1 as this is the lowest risk category. Would anyone be able to clarify this?

As well as the above, our research has led us to believe that local planning authorities hold the data regarding which zone 3 areas are designated as zone 3a and zone 3b. Would any LPAs be able to confirm this and also whether there is different criteria across different LPAs for the zone 3 split?

[skipster2k2]

Hi @colmjude I've just started a project with DEFRA looking at benchmarking hydrological methods, it would be great to have a chat about what you've learnt about how flood risk assessments are created if possible. My email is ian.ames@defra.gov.uk

[mattlucht]

Hi Ian – I just spotted this, and apologies if we've not gotten back to you yet. It'd be good to talk, I'll drop you and @colmjude a message and we can set something up!