Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

What is the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy?

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) sets out how we intend to work with partners to manage the risk of flooding in the East Riding up to 2027 and beyond.

This was formally adopted by the council on 18 November 2015. 

A draft LFRMS was published for consultation from 2 March 2015 to 10 April 2015. The responses received helped to inform the final version of the LFRMS. A Report of the Consultation has also been produced:

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (pdf 10.61mb opens in new window)

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy - Summary Document (pdf 2.32mb opens in new window)

Report of the Consultation (pdf 2.69mb opens in new window)

What are Flood Risk Management Plans?

To support the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy we are developing a series of Flood Risk Management Plans for drainage catchments within the East Riding. These involve producing studies including hydraulic models to benchmark existing flood risk in East Riding communities. These studies provide the evidence base for future investment, leading on to future flood alleviation schemes.

The following map indicates drainage catchments in the East Riding:

Drainage catchments (pdf 382kb opens in new window)

The first Flood Risk Management Plan that we have produced is for the Kingston upon Hull and Haltemprice catchment (within East Riding of Yorkshire). This was prepared alongside the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and formally adopted by the council on 18 November 2015:

Flood Risk Management Plan - Kingston upon Hull & Haltemprice catchment (pdf 7.88mb opens in new window)

What is the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)?

We are required by the EU directive 2001/42/EC on Strategic Environmental Assessment ('SEA Directive') to undertake Strategic Environmental Assessment on the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment. We are of the view that the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) and Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) fall within the scope of plans that require SEA.

In February 2014 we consulted on a Draft Scoping Report for the SEA setting out how we propose to undertake the SEA of the LFRMS and FRMPs. It included a review of the relevant plans and programmes, baseline environmental information and a proposed set of SEA objectives and monitoring indicators. The comments received were taken into account in producing the Final Scoping Report:

SEA Final Scoping Report (pdf 2.63mb opens in new window)

SEA Final Scoping Report Appendices (pdf 814kb opens in new window)

The SEA framework was applied to the Draft LFRMS and the results of this were presented in a Draft Environmental Statement. The comments received informed the final versions of the documents:

Final Environmental Statement (pdf 6.7mb opens in new window)

The SEA Directive also requires us to publish a 'post adoption statement' following the adoption of a plan or programme that has been subject to SEA:

SEA Post Adoption Statement (pdf 376kb opens in new window)

What is the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA)?

We are required by the Habitats Directive (92/42/EEC) as set out in the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (as amended) to undertake a Habitat Regulations Assessment of plans and projects which are likely to have a significant effect on one or more sites that are subject to European designations for their wildlife value, either individually or in combination with other plans and projects.

We are of the view that the LFRMS and FRMPs fall within the scope of plans that require HRA. This is also commonly referred to as Appropriate Assessment (AA) although the requirement for AA is first determined by an initial 'screening' stage. The relevant HRA Reports for the LFRMS and FRMP(s) have been produced:

Final HRA Screening Report - LFRMS (pdf 3.16mb opens in new window)

Final HRA Screening Report - LFRMS Appendix 5 (pdf 2.86mb opens in new window)

Addendum to the HRA Screening Report (pdf 1.93mb opens in new window)

HRA Appropriate Assessment Report - LFRMS (pdf 3.02mb opens in new window)

HRA Appropriate Assessment - Kingston upon Hull & Haltemprice FRMP (pdf 4.24mb opens in new window)

What is the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA)?

As a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), the East Riding of Yorkshire Council produced a PFRA to meet the requirements of the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 (FRR) and the European Floods Directive (EUFD). The FRR implement the EUFD in England. They provide a framework for managing flood risk over a 6 year cycle comprising:

• Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report - deadline 22/06/2011
  
• Identify Flood Risk Areas - deadline 22/06/2011
  
• Prepare Flood Hazard and Flood Risk maps - deadline 22/06/2013
  
• Prepare Flood Risk Management Plans for Flood Risk Areas - deadline 22/06/2015
  

 The PFRA forms our preliminary assessment dealing with specific types of flood risk within the East Riding and follows the preferred format in the Environment Agency's PFRA guidance. The PFRA provides an initial assessment of local flood risk across the East Riding, including the basis of the preparation of a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and the council's strategic investment plan:

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment 2011 (pdf 3.22mb opens in new window)

The objectives of the PFRA are to:

• Establish boundaries of the flood risk area.
  
• Identify additional hydraulic catchment-based flood risk areas, to be subject to further studies (such as surface water management plans).
  
• Record historic flood events from local and national sources and to assess the consequences and impacts of these.
  
• Assess potential future flood events and their impacts.
  
• Feed into flood resilience and emergency planning processes.
  
• Provide the context and framework for a local flood risk management strategy that will identify priorities, investment and resource requirements.

What significant risk does does the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) identify?

We modified an indicative flood risk area presented by the Environment Agency coveringKingston Upon Hull & Haltemprice. The Environment Agency accepted this modification.

We proposed an additional three flood risk areas susceptible to surface water flooding at risk:

Bridlington 

The main risk in Bridlington is from a coincidence of surface water flood risk.

Beverley

Surface water flood risk is from exceedance of the drainage system. The parts of the town at risk are similar to those at risk of flooding from the River Hull.

Goole

Most of the town is defended to a 1 in 200 standard of protection against tidal flooding by raised river embankments. In practical terms, the main risk is from surface water, as the drainage system relies entirely on pumping. Main flooding events in modern times (at least post-1947) have been pluvial inundation.

The Environment Agency has reviewed our PFRA and determined that the additional Flood Risk Areas are not compliant with Government guidance as to the areas identified do not meet the thresholds and criteria set by the Minister in England. In accordance with the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 (FFR), the matter has been referred to the Minister for a final decision.

We received the determination in September 2013. Whilst the Minister recognised historic issues and the potential for future flood risk in these three towns, it was decided that they would not be included as additional flood risk areas.

Kingston Upon Hull & Haltemprice Flood Risk Areas - Original (png 470kb opens in new window)

The remaining stages of the FFR cycle were dealt with as part of our Hull and Haltemprice (within the East Riding of Yorkshire)  Flood Risk Management Plan and the Environment Agency's Humber River Basin District Flood Risk Management Plan 2015-2021:

www.gov.uk publications (external website)

Has our 2011 Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) been reviewed?

Depending on the approach taken to European Union (EU) exit, there may be potential to make changes to the Flood Risk Regulations 2009 (FRR) in the coming years. EU exit did not, however, alter the requirement for the Council as Lead Local Flood Authority, to review its preliminary assessment and Flood Risk Areas (FRA) by 22 June 2017 as the UK was still a full member of the EU. The FRR states that each of the four elements must be reviewed and updated where necessary at least every 6 years, the four elements being:

• Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report
  
• Identify Flood Risk Area
  
• Prepare Flood Hazard and Flood Risk Maps
  
• Prepare Flood Risk Management Plans for Flood Risk Areas
  

 To complete the first review we provided the relevant up to date information to the Environment Agency (EA) who collated feedback nationally to report to the European Commission. Our 2017 update is available to view:

www.gov.uk publications (external website)

As a result of the review and the EA's proposed indicative FRA for this cycle, amendments were made to the Hull and Haltemprice Flood Risk Area. It remains the only designated FRA in the East Riding:

Kingston Upon Hull & Haltemprice Flood Risk Areas 2017/18 (png 413kb)

The next milestones for the FRR Cycle are:

• Review of the flood risk and hazard maps by June 2019
  
• Review of the Flood Risk Management Plan by June 2021