The Flood Map for Planning Service includes several layers of information. This includes the Flood Zones data which shows the extent of land at present day risk of flooding from rivers and the sea, ignoring the benefits of defences, for the following scenarios:

• Flood Zone 1 – Land having a less than 0.1% (1 in 1000) annual probability of flooding. • Flood Zone 2 – Land having between 0.1% - 1% (1 in 100 to 1 in 1000) annual probability of flooding from rivers or between 0.1% - 0.5% (1 in 200 to 1 in 1000) annual probability of flooding from the sea, and accepted recorded flood outlines . • Flood Zone 3 – Areas shown to be at a 1% (1 in 100) or greater annual probability of flooding from rivers or 0.5% (1 in 200) or greater annual probability of flooding from the sea.

Flood Zone 1 is not shown in this dataset, but covers all areas not contained within Flood Zones 2 and 3. Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) use the Flood Zones to determine if they must consult the Environment Agency on planning applications. They are also used to determine if development is incompatible and whether development is subject to the exception test. The Flood Zones are one of several flood risk datasets used to determine the need for planning applications to be supported by a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and subject to the sequential test.

The Flood Zones are a composite dataset including national and local modelled data, and information from past floods.

The Flood Zones are designed to only give an indication of flood risk to an area of land and are not suitable for showing whether an individual property is at risk of flooding. This is because we cannot know all the details about each property.

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.

PLEASE NOTE: This dataset has been retired. It has been superseded by https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/04532375-a198-476e-985e-0579a0a11b47.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 Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes several layers of information. This layer and documentation covers Flood Zone 2. It is the Environment Agency's best estimate of the areas of land at risk of flooding, when he presence of flood defences are ignored and covers land between Zone 3 and the extent of the flooding from rivers or the sea with a 1 in 1000 (0.1%) chance of flooding each year. This dataset also includes those areas defined in Flood Zone 3.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. This dataset is republished by the West of England Combined Authority for supplementing information within our Local Nature Recovery Strategy. If you are using it for statutory purposes, you should refer to the Environment Agency's canonical version, linked in the Attributions field below as this is likely to be more current.

PLEASE NOTE: this dataset has been retired. It has been superseded by data for Flood Risk Areas: https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/f3d63ec5-a21a-49fb-803a-0fa0fb7238b6 The Indicative Flood Risk Areas are primarily based on an aggregated 1km square grid Updated Flood Map for Surface Water (1 in 100 and 1000 annual probability rainfall), informally referred to as the “blue square map”. This dataset is a component part of Indicative Flood Risk Areas (shapefiles) A bundle download of all Indicative Flood Risk Areas spatial datasets is also available from this record. Please see individual records for full details and metadata on each product. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. All rights reserved. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence

The Flood Map for Planning includes several layers of information, which includes data created to support the use of Flood Zones in the planning process. They show the extent of land at risk of flooding to a defined annual exceedance probability (AEP) or chance of flooding each year. These scenarios show a present day risk; climate change scenarios are available separately. These datasets include the following scenarios: ● Undefended: 0.1% AEP (1 in 1000) Rivers/Sea ● Undefended: 1% AEP (1 in 100) Rivers/ 0.5% AEP (1 in 200) Sea ● Defended: 0.1% AEP (1 in 1000) Rivers/Sea ● Defended: 1% AEP (1 in 100) Rivers/ 0.5% AEP (1 in 200) Sea The undefended products show flood extents that ignore the presence and condition of flood defences. The defended products take into account the presence of flood defences and assume that they operate in the way they were intended (or designed) to function. This does not include any asset failure (or removal) scenarios. These datasets are designed to only give an indication of flood risk to an area of land and are not suitable for showing whether an individual property is at risk of flooding. This is because we cannot know all the details about each property. Information on flood depth, speed or volume of flow is not included. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2025. All rights reserved.

PLEASE NOTE: This record has been retired. It has been superseded by: https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/b5aaa28d-6eb9-460e-8d6f-43caa71fbe0e This dataset is not suitable for identifying whether an individual property will flood. This bundle includes the full set of datasets from our Risk of Flooding from Surface Water (RoFSW) mapping, previously known as the updated Flood Map for Surface Water (uFMfSW). It is a group of datasets previously available as the uFMfSW Complex Package. Further information on using these datasets can be found at the Resource Locator link below. Information Warnings: Risk of Flooding from Surface Water is not to be used at property level. If the Content is displayed in map form to others we recommend it should not be used with basemapping more detailed than 1:10,000 as the data is open to misinterpretation if used as a more detailed scale. Because of the way they have been produced and the fact that they are indicative, the maps are not appropriate to act as the sole evidence for any specific planning or regulatory decision or assessment of risk in relation to flooding at any scale without further supporting studies or evidence. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved. Some features of this information are based on digital spatial data licensed from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology © NERC (CEH). Defra, Met Office and DARD Rivers Agency © Crown copyright. © Cranfield University. © James Hutton Institute. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2015. Land & Property Services © Crown copyright and database right

The Flood Map for Planning (FMfP) includes climate change information to show how this will affect flood risk extents for rivers, the sea and surface water and small watercourses over the next century. It shows the potential extent of flooding assuming no defences are in place. It also indicates areas at risk from coastal erosion, areas that have flooded in the past and key information on the location of flood defence infrastructure. The FMfP can be considered as the best available information on flood risk and will replace the Development Advice Map for planning purposes in June 2023. Although it currently has no official status for planning purposes it is a useful data source when considering flood risks. More information on the formal implementation of the new TAN15 and FMfP is set out in the Written Statement from the Welsh Government https://gov.wales/written-statement-suspension-new-technical-advice-note-15-development-flood-risk-and-coastal The Flood Zones within the FMfP shows the undefended risk of flooding from Rivers, the Sea and from Surface Water & Small Watercourses. Flood Zone 3 displays the extent of flooding from: • rivers with a 1% (1 in 100) chance or greater of happening in any given year, including an allowance for climate change. • the sea with a 0.5% (1 in 200) chance or greater of happening in any given year, including an allowance for climate change. • Surface water & small watercourses with a 1% (1 in 100) chance or greater of happening in any given year, including an allowance for climate change. Flood Zone 2 displays the extent of flooding from: • Rivers with less than 1% (1 in 100) but greater than or equal to 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance of happening in any given year, including an allowance for climate change. • the Sea with less than 0.5% (1 in 200) but greater than or equal to 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance of flooding in any given year, including an allowance for climate change. • Surface water & small watercourses with less than 1% (1 in 100) but greater than or equal to 0.1% (1 in 1,000) chance of happening in any given year, including an allowance for climate change. The FMfP is displayed in two parts, a Basic View and a Detailed View. In the Basic View the risk of flooding from Rivers and the Sea is shown as a merged layer. In the Detailed View flood risk is separated into individual sources. In both Views Flood Zones for Surface Water & Small Watercourses are shown separately.

The Flood Map for Planning includes several layers of information, which includes data created to support the use of Flood Zones in the planning process. This dataset shows the extent of land at risk of flooding to a defined annual exceedance probability (AEP) or chance of flooding each year, taking into account the possible effects of climate change as detailed below. This dataset represents the following scenario: ● Defended: 3.3% AEP (1 in 30) Rivers/Sea The defended products take into account the presence of flood defences and assume that they operate in the way they were intended (or designed) to function. This does not include any asset failure (or removal) scenarios. Climate change scenarios have been produced to indicate the possible impacts of climate change on future risk. The climate change allowances are based on the latest UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) from the Met Office, using the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5. The specific climate change scenarios shown are as follows: ● the ‘Central’ allowance for the 2080s epoch (2070-2125) for risk of flooding from rivers ● the ‘Upper End’ allowance for risk of flooding from the sea, accounting for cumulative sea level rise to 2125 For climate change scenarios, it is assumed that existing flood defences continue to function in the same way as present day. No allowance is made for any future changes to flood defence design or operation. These datasets are designed to only give an indication of flood risk to an area of land and are not suitable for showing whether an individual property is at risk of flooding. This is because we cannot know all the details about each property. Information on flood depth, speed or volume of flow is not included. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2025. All rights reserved.

This metadata record is for Approval for Access product AfA256.

Flood Risk Areas identify locations where there is believed to be significant flood risk. The EU Floods Directive refers to Flood Risk Areas as 'Areas of Potentially Significant Flood Risk' (APSFR).

Flood Risk Areas have been defined by the Environment Agency (main rivers and the sea) and Lead Local Flood Authorities (surface water). Other sources of flooding are not covered. This dataset includes Flood Risk Areas defined for both Cycle 1 (December 2011) and Cycle 2 (December 2018).

The criteria used to determine significance are explained in supporting guidance document supplied with this data.

Flood Risk Areas determine where Flood Hazard and Risk Maps and Flood Risk Management Plans must subsequently be produced to meet obligations under the EU Floods Directive.

INFORMATION WARNING

Flood Risk Areas are designed to meet the needs of the European Floods Directive. They are designed for broad planning purposes only and are not appropriate for any other type of flood mapping. Other flood mapping is available which is more appropriate to showing localised flood risk.

The Flood Zones show the probability of river and sea flooding, ignoring the presence of defences.

There are four zones, 1, 2, 3a and 3b, that reflect the annual probability of flooding happening.

This map shows all areas with more than a 1 in 1,000 annual probability of either river or sea flooding by combining zones 2, 3a and 3b.

If you want to submit a planning application within these zones, you will need to do a flood risk assessment. For a full explanation of when a flood risk assessment is required, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/flood-risk-assessment-for-planning-applications#when-you-need-an-assessment.

To view more detailed information on the flood zones, visit https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/.

Set of shapefiles defining Indicative Flood Risk Areas for local risk. Indicative Flood Risk Areas are provided by the Environment Agency for use by Lead Local Flood Authorities in England in their review during 2017 of Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments and Flood Risk Areas under the Flood Risk Regulations. The Indicative Flood Risk Areas are primarily based on an aggregated 1km square grid Updated Flood Map for Surface Water (1 in 100 and 1000 annual probability rainfall), informally referred to as the “blue square map”. These are 1km grids across England and consist of the following data layers: • Surface Water Flood Risk Exposure Grid – 1km square grid that shows places above the flood risk threshold defined, using the 1 in 100 and 1000 annual probability (deep) Flood Map for Surface Water. • Flood risk thresholds used to generate the “blue Squares”: - Number of people > 200 - Number of critical services, including electricity and water > 1 - Number of non-residential properties > 20 • Cluster Maps – are aggregations of 3km by 3km squares that each contain at least 5 touching "blue squares" (i.e. 1km grid squares where one of the thresholds above is exceeded) • Communities at Risk by Lead Local Flooding Authority • People Sensitivity Map by Lead Local Flood Authority. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2016. All rights reserved. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence

This dataset is now retired and replaced with the following:

Reservoir Flood Extents - Fluvial Contribution (National) https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/db114020-465a-412b-b289-be393d995a75 Reservoir Flood Extents - Wet Day (National) https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/d81646cf-37e5-4e71-bbcf-b7d5b9ca3a1c Reservoir Flood Extents - Dry Day (National) https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/c66ee97f-49d2-454e-9a19-d48a47bd22ad

This is the simplified version of the outline Reservoir Flood Map Outline (Speed) as shown on the gov.uk Flood Risk website. This is one of 3 available "Risk of Flooding from Reservoirs" Web Mapping Services; Maximum Flood Depth, Maximum Flood Extent, Maximum Flood Speed.

. Simplified in this context refers to the fact that unlike the detailed product, individual reservoir flood map speeds are not shown separately, and one merged outline shows the maximum flood speeds for all reservoir flooding scenarios together.

This is a data layer showing a combined reservoir flood map for 2,092 Large Raised Reservoirs including attributed data. The data shows the maximum speed of flooding should reservoirs be breached, and although the location of each reservoir can be inferred they are not explicitly shown on the maps. The Reservoir Flood Map Maximum Flood Outline (Speed) in its simplified form is referred to externally as Risk of Flooding from Reservoirs – Maximum Flood Speed.

The Reservoir Flood Map Outline (Speed) shows the maximum flood speeds that might be expected if a reservoir were to fail and release the water it holds. Since this is a prediction of a credible worst case scenario, it’s unlikely that any actual flooding would create speeds this high. These data are intended for emergency planning only and are not reliable for large scale flood risk assessments.

Please note that only flood maps for large reservoirs are displayed. Flood maps are not displayed for smaller reservoirs or for reservoirs commissioned after reservoir mapping began in spring 2009.

Information Warning: Only the Maximum extent, velocity and depth categories are available under the standard OGL terms when supplied as a WMS. This excludes the underlying data. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2019. All rights reserved.

The Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes several layers of information. This dataset covers Water Storage Areas. It shows those areas that act as a balancing reservoir, storage basin or balancing pond. Their purpose is to attenuate an incoming flood peak to a flow level that can be accepted by the downstream channel. It may also delay the timing of a flood peak so that its volume is discharged over a longer time interval. We have assumed that water storage areas act perfectly and give the same level of protection as when our assessment of the area was carried out. Water storage areas do not completely remove the chance of flooding and can be overtopped or fail in extreme weather conditions.

This dataset is designed to raise awareness of the likelihood of flooding and to encourage people living and working in areas prone to flooding to find out more and take appropriate action.

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

Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) includes the following datasets:Flood Zone 3Flood Zone 2Flood Storage AreasThe information on the Flood Map for Planning (Rivers and Sea) is designed to only give an indication of flood risk to an area of land and is not sufficiently detailed to show whether an individual property is at risk of flooding.It doesn't show flooding from other sources, such as groundwater, direct runoff from fields, or overflowing sewers.

The surface water flood maps give an indication of the broad areas likely to be at risk of surface water flooding. This includes flooding that takes place from the surface runoff generated by rainwater (including snow and other precipitation) that: (a) is on the surface of the ground (whether or not it is moving), and (b) has not yet entered a watercourse, drainage system or public sewer. The Flood Map for Surface Water pick out natural drainage channels, rivers, low areas in floodplains, and flow paths between buildings. But it does not indicate flooding caused by local rainfall. It does not show flooding that occurs from overflowing watercourses, drainage systems or public sewers caused by catchment-wide rainfall events or river flow. A national model has been run for 1 in 30, 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 year rainfall events. It has been modelled on a 2 metre square grid. Lead Local Flood Authorities were consulted and where available locally held model outputs have been incorporated into the maps. This dataset has been superseded by the new National Flood Hazard Maps 2019 - NRW_DS124790

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. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2018. All rights reserved. © Crown copyright and database rights 2018 Ordnance Survey 100024198