Review of local approaches to managing surface water flood risk

This review aimed to improve surface water flood risk management by establishing an overview of local approaches.

• From: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 24 February 2021

• Category: Policy, governance and funding
• Topics: Big data, Emergency planning, Flood forecasting, Flood risk assessment, Flood warning, Monitoring and detection, Sustainable drainage systems
• Project status: Completed
• Project code: FD2707
• Date of completion: 31 March 2018

Documents

Review of local approaches to surface water flood risk management - technical report (772KB) PDF

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Details

The project examined how surface water flood risk is managed by Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs), Water & Sewerage Companies (WaSCs) and Highways Agencies (HAs) in order to inform a cross-Whitehall review.

The research was carried out through a review in a sample of key towns and cities. It assessed:

• what flood risk scenarios are being used - what drainage standards and / or levels of protection they aim to deliver
• working practices related to managing surface water flood risk
• data gathering and sharing across organisations about surface water flood risk
• how effective local arrangements for managing surface water flood risk are

The aim was to establish a shared view of surface water flood management in order to:

• co-ordinate existing arrangements
• clarify responsibilities
• improve results.

Better, more accurate data sharing and forecasting also formed part of the review.

The project started in 2017 and was completed in 2018 at a cost of £29,740.

Published 24 February 2021