The Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes several layers of information. This dataset covers Flood Zone 3. It is our best estimate of the areas of land at risk of flooding, when the presence of flood defences are ignored and covers land with a 1 in 100 (1%) or greater chance of flooding each year from Rivers; or with a 1 in 200 (0.5%) or greater chance of flooding each year from the Sea.

This dataset is designed to support flood risk assessments in line with Planning Practice Guidance; and raise awareness of the likelihood of flooding to encourage people living and working in areas prone to flooding to find out more and take appropriate action.

The information provided is largely based on modelled data and is therefore indicative rather than specific.

Locations may also be at risk from other sources of flooding, such as high groundwater levels, overland run off from heavy rain, or failure of infrastructure such as sewers and storm drains.

The information indicates the flood risk to areas of land and is not sufficiently detailed to show whether an individual property is at risk of flooding, therefore properties may not always face the same chance of flooding as the areas that surround them. This is because we do not hold details about properties and their floor levels.

Information on flood depth, speed or volume of flow is not included.

NOTE: We have paused quarterly updates of this dataset. Please visit the “Pause to Updates of Flood Risk Maps” announcement on our support pages for further information. We will provide notifications on the Flood Map for Planning website to indicate where we have new flood risk information. Other data related to the Flood Map for Planning will continue to be updated, including data relating to flood history, flood defences, and water storage areas.

The Historic Flood Map is a GIS layer showing the maximum extent of individual Recorded Flood Outlines from river, the sea and groundwater springs that meet a set criteria. It shows areas of land that have previously been subject to flooding in England. This excludes flooding from surface water, except in areas where it is impossible to determine whether the source is fluvial or surface water but the dominant source is fluvial.

The majority of records began in 1946 when predecessor bodies to the Environment Agency started collecting detailed information about flooding incidents, although we hold limited details about flooding incidents prior to this date.

If an area is not covered by the Historic Flood Map it does not mean that the area has never flooded, only that we do not currently have records of flooding in this area that meet the criteria for inclusion. It is also possible that the pattern of flooding in this area has changed and that this area would now flood or not flood under different circumstances. Outlines that don’t meet this criteria are stored in the Recorded Flood Outlines dataset.

The Historic Flood Map takes into account the presence of defences, structures, and other infrastructure where they existed at the time of flooding. It will include flood extents that may have been affected by overtopping, breaches or blockages.

Flooding is shown to the land and does not necessarily indicate that properties were flooded internally.

The Development Advice Map (DAM) shows areas at risk of flooding from rivers and the sea for the purposes of land-use planning. The DAM supports Planning Policy Wales and Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15 to guide new development away from areas at risk of flooding wherever possible. Together, they form a precautionary framework to guide planning decisions. The DAM should be considered as a trigger for identifying which development proposals may need to undertake a more detailed assessment of flooding risks and consequences in line with the policy advice set out in TAN15.

Zone C (the 1000yr extreme flood outline) was last updated in January 2020. No further updates are planned to the DAM and you are advised to contact Natural Resources Wales (NRW) about the availability of more up-to-date information.

Zone B (areas known to have flooded in the past) was originally published in 2004 and revised in 2017. When using the DAM the preview defaults to Zone B only. You will need to use the legend control to switch on the other zones.

NRW has developed a new Flood Map for Planning (FMfP) which was published in September 2021. This indicates undefended flood extents over the next 100yrs taking into account the impacts of climate change. This will replace the DAM in June 2023. Although the Flood Map for Planning is not referred to in current planning policy, it can be considered as the most up to date information on flooding risks.

Due to technical Issues the Web Services and Map Browser for the Development Advice Map are currently not available. If you wish to browse the data see the NRW Flood Risk Viewer https://maps.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk/Html5Viewer/Index.html?configBase=https://maps.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk/Geocortex/Essentials/REST/sites/Flood_Risk/viewers/Flood_Risk/virtualdirectory/Resources/Config/Default&layerTheme=2

This dataset has been produced as part of the Mapping Potential for Working with Natural Processes research project (SC150005). The project created a toolbox of mapped data and methods which enable operational staff in England to identify potential locations for Working with Natural Processes (WWNP).

Data has been produced for each intervention covered by the project. The final outputs include the following datasets: • Floodplain Woodland Planting Potential • Riparian Woodland Planting Potential • Wider Catchment Woodland • Floodplain Reconnection Potential • Runoff Attenuation Features 3.3% AEP • Runoff Attenuation Features 1% AEP • Woodland Constraints

WWNP Floodplain Woodland Planting Potential is our best estimate of locations where tree planting on the floodplain may be possible, and effective to attenuate flooding. The dataset is designed to support signposting of areas of floodplain not already wooded. The dataset is based upon fluvial Flood Zone 2 of the Flood Map for Planning. A set of open access constraints data was used to erase areas which contained existing woodland, watercourses, peat, roads, rail and urban locations.

The information provided is largely based on modelled data and open constraints data, and is therefore indicative rather than specific. Locations identified may have more recent building or land use than available data indicates. It is important to note that land ownership and change to flood risk have not been considered, and it may be necessary to model the impacts of significant planting.

Further information on the Working with Natural Processes project, including a mapping user guide, can be found in the reports published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-with-natural-processes-to-reduce-flood-risk

WWNP Floodplain Woodland Planting Potential is our best estimate of locations where tree planting on the floodplain may be possible, and effective to attenuate flooding. The dataset is designed to support signposting of areas of floodplain not already wooded. The dataset is based upon fluvial Flood Zone 2 of the Flood Map for Planning. A set of open access constraints data was used to erase areas which contained existing woodland, watercourses, peat, roads, rail and urban locations.The information provided is largely based on modelled data and open constraints data, and is therefore indicative rather than specific. Locations identified may have more recent building or land use than available data indicates. It is important to note that land ownership and change to flood risk have not been considered, and it may be necessary to model the impacts of significant planting.The Environment Agency’s Flood Map for Planning (2016) - Flood Zone 2 (0.1% AEP) was used to delineate areas close to the watercourse in the floodplain which may be suitable for tree planting. The ‘Woodland Constraints’ data was then applied, masking existing woodland, watercourses, peat, roads, rail and urban areas.

showing boundaries of Flood Zone as defined by Environment agency. High Risk

This dataset identifies areas where the addition of new ponds would benefit Great Crested Newt populations.The core areas contain a pond density of 2+ ponds and are located within a 1km square where great crested newt presence has been predicted.Fringe areas contain a pond density of 1 and are located within a 1km square where great crested newt presence has been predicted or are within a 250m of a Core Area.Higher scores are associated with darker colouration and represent a greater presence of suitable habitat features: Distance from a River 200-2000m; Soil pH 6.5 – 7.5; Soil Phosphorus 35 -45 mg kg-1; Arable Density < 33%; Distance from Grassland <100m; Grassland Density 10 -40%; Distance from Woodland < 100m. These suitable habitat features have been given a score of ‘1’.Urban areas > 2ha (+400m buffer), roads (7.5m), rivers (7.5m) and Environment Agency Flood Zone 2 have been excluded.Full metadata can be viewed on data.gov.uk.Data used to generate this derived data set includes the 2015 CEH Land Cover map (woodland, grassland,urban and arable land classifications), OS MasterMap (pond locations that have been converted by NE into pond densities), Natural Capital Soil pH and Phosphorus, Cranfield University Soils Data, Natural Engalnd GCN Class License Survey Returns England, Natural England GCN Pond Surveys DLL 17 18 19, OS Open Rivers, OS Open Roads, Environment Agency Flood Map - Flood Zone 2, OS Boundary Line District Boundaries, GCN data collated and provided by Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service and Allocations data from Nofolk County Council, Breckland District Council, Broadland District Council, South Norfolk District Council, Norwich City council, Kings Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council, Great Yarmout, North Norfolk Council, Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Babergh District Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, Ipswich Council, The Broads National Park, West Suffolk council and Waveney District Council.Soil pH: Henrys, P.A.; Keith, A.M.; Robinson, D.A.; Emmett, B.A. (2012). Model estimates of topsoil pH and bulk density [Countryside Survey]. NERC Environmental Information Data CentreSoil Phosphorus: Henrys, P.A.; Keith, A.M.; Robinson, D.A.; Emmett, B.A. (2012). Model estimates of topsoil nutrients [Countryside Survey]. NERC Environmental Information Data CentreDOI for LCM2015 25m raster data for Great Britain:Rowland, C.S.; Morton, R.D.; Carrasco, L.; McShane, G.; O’Neil, A.W.; Wood, C.M. (2017) Land Cover Map 2015 (25m raster, GB). NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/bb15e200-9349-403c-bda9-b430093807c7DOI for LCM2015 Vector data for Great Britain: Rowland, C.S.; Morton, R.D.; Carrasco, L.; McShane, G.; O’Neil, A.W.; Wood, C.M. (2017) Land Cover Map 2015 (vector, GB). NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/6c6c9203-7333-4d96-88ab-78925e7a4e73