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Last update:24th July 2008 Quick links:
Floodline - advice & current flood warnings Catchment Flood Management Plans in the South West Planning applications objected to on flood risk grounds in the South West Who is responsible for flood defences? Investment in flood protection State of flood defences in the SW and regions Future of flood and coastal defence Wise Use of Floodplains Project River Parrett Catchment Project Flash floods: Boscastle & Lynmouth Quick links:Reducing flood risk - Environment Agency Strategy for flood risk management - Environment Agency Flood risk & insurance - Environment Agency Climate change in the South West UK flooding in 2000 - MET Office DEFRA's managed retreat consultation DEFRA's consultation on funding flood defences DEFRA's consultation on nature conservation & flood defences A
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Floodswhat's New on this page...
High tides, combined with certain weather conditions, can lead to flooding along the coastal flood plains. However, floods can endanger lives, damage buildings, historic structures, archaeology and settlements. It can also adversely affect health, the characteristics of landscapes and habitats. Floodline
A flooding guide for older people is available from the Environment Agency as well as a large library of downloadable fact sheets and guidance on how to protect your home or business. What are floodplains?A flood plain is an area of land over which river or sea water flows or is stored in times of flood. A flood plain can extend beyond the land immediately adjacent to a watercourse. There are two types of floodplains: River floodplains River channels have a limited capacity for water and when this is exceeded, flooding of the adjoining land (or flood plain) occurs, which then act to convey and store this water. Coastal floodplains Coastal Flood plains are areas of low-lying land along the coast that can be flooded by the sea. They act as a buffer to help protect the coastal hinterland from tidal flooding. Tidal flood plains in estuaries can be flooded from either raised sea levels or floodwater from rivers, or a combination of both. More detailed explanations of flooding terms are available on the Environment Agency's website River and coastal flood plains are distinctive and important features of the South West's environment. Flood plains mapped by the Environment Agency cover approximately 7% of the land in the South West. Floodplains in the South West: flooding vulnerability
Source: Environment Agency, 2004 Find floodplains near you by using the Environment Agency's What's In Your Backyard web facility Why are floodplains important?Flood plains are a vital part of our environment and their flooding is a natural occurrence, which often occurs without risk to people. However, the effectiveness of a river and flood plain to convey and store flood water can be adversely affected by human activity. As well as their importance in providing natural storage for floodwater, flood plains can also provide:
The periodic flooding of low-lying areas nourishes the soil, a benefit used by farmers for centuries. Flood events can be exacerbated by development in flood plains. Roads, railways, housing and commercial developments are often built in floodplains because it is relatively easy and cheap to build there. Some 11% of new homes are built in flood risk areas in England. Development on a flood plain reduces the space available to floodwaters whilst the speed and height of the flood increases as it moves down stream. In some cases development in the flood plain acts like a dam, increasing flooding upstream. Drainage systems and hard surfaces, such as roads and car parks, can also increase flooding by quickly transferring rainwater into rivers (Environment Agency, 2007). Floodplain managementThe state of a flood plain is an example of the outcome of natural pressures such as flooding and human pressures such as development. Historically, many settlements grew around river crossing points, which have required subsequent engineering works to try to reduce the flood risk for people and property. These flood defences require costly and ongoing maintenance, but can never completely remove the flood risk. The flooding of flood plain areas is both a natural and desirable process, where it can occur without risk to human life. The effectiveness of rivers and flood plains to convey and to store flood water, and minimise flood risks, can be adversely affected by human activity, especially by development which physically changes the flood plain. According to the Environment Agency, there are five million people and two million properties at risk of flooding in England and Wales. In the South West, this amounts to 100,000 properties. The Environment Agency's Flood Warning service is widely available. More planning authorities are heeding Environment Agency warnings against building on flood plains, although there is still too much inappropriate development taking place in areas of flood risk. South West flood eventsThe number of major flooding incidents varies greatly from year to year. The severe weather in October\November 2000 caused some places to flood for the first time in decades and York experienced its worst flooding for 400 years. More information about regional flood events such as in Boscastle 2004, Lynmouth 1952 and during Easter 2000 can be viewed here. Predicted increases in both the amount of winter rainfall and the intensity of storms could increase the future risk of flooding. The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) predicts that by the 2050s winters will be 15% wetter whilst extreme high sea levels will be up to 20 times more frequent. See section on climate change for more information. See section on climate change for more information. Flood warningsThe Environment Agency run an automated system of flood warnings in England and Wales. However, whilst 750,000 properties situated in high risk flood areas of England and Wales can receive these automated flood warnings, only or 287,774 or about 40% of these households have signed up. Some 18,500 properties in the South West have signed up to the Environment Agency's automated flood warning system. However, many more properties are at risk, and can be provided with a Flood Warning service from the Environment Agency. The better prepared you are, the better you'll cope with the effects of flooding should it ever happen to you. Floodline Warnings Direct gives an advance warning in flood risk areas by telephone, mobile, fax, pager, text or e-mail. To find out if flood warnings are available in your area and to sign up to the service, call Floodline on 0845 988 1188. The annual average damage from flooding in England and Wales is estimated at £1 billion and this figure is set to increase. The colour code (yellow, amber and red) changes to the flood warning severity categories were initiated on 12th September 2000. This means that flood warning statistics are difficult to compare pre and post September 2000
The introduction of the Floodline Warnings Direct (FWD) in February 2006 also brought about a change in the Flood Watch service. General Area Flood Watches are no longer issued, and specific Flood Watches are no longer issued for river reaches. Instead they are issued for catchment areas, triggered by any one of a number of fluvial conditions. This will mean that the number of flood watches issued for a particular event will be smaller. Comparison of the number of flood watches issued should therefore be made cautiously. Number of flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency 2000/2001 - 2006/2007
Between April 2006 and March 2007, there has been an increase in the number of fluvial flood warnings issued over the region since 2005/06. The total number of flood warnings issued for the region was above the 1994-2005 average. There was also an increase in the number of tidal flood warnings issued across the region during between April 2006 and March 2007, with the highest amount of tidal warnings issued since 1993. Update: July 2007 floods The South West has so far managed to avoid the worst of the 2007 floods but the Environment Agency has renewed its appeal for people to sign-up to the free Flood Warnings Direct system. In the week during the height of the floods, the Environment Agency has issued more than 1,100 flood warning messages to millions of people nationally via the 24-hour phoneline and website, by loudhailer, siren and across radio and television. More than 120,000 properties received direct flood warnings via the Environment Agency Floodline Warnings Direct service. Properties at risk and property floodingThe number of properties flooded in the region varies according to weather patterns. According to the Environment Agency (2007) there are 145,872 properties at risk from flooding in the South West. Of these properties:
The Environment Agency gathers data on flood events. The period of April 2006 to March 2007 was not notable for serious flooding. In a year when rainfall was often above the long term average and sea levels exceeded their benchmark high levels on numerous occasions, the sequence of events was nearly always such that serious flooding was avoided. Despite this, the region continues to experience severe small-scale rainfall events which cause localised flooding, and the Environment Agency are improving service to these affected communities. In this relatively flood-free period the Environment Agency have consolidated our flood incident management service, introducing a sophisticated new flood forecasting system which should stand the region in good stead when more widespread flooding inevitably returns. The record of flooded properties in the region is not yet complete, however, the impact of significant flooding events such as the year 2000 floods and other large flash flood events can be seen in the data below. Number of flooded properties in the South West 2000/2001 - 2006/2007
Source: Environment Agency, 2006 Changes in land management, including urbanisation, also affects flooding. For example, water runs off hard surfaces and bare fields and is more likely to lead to flooding. North Devon & Somerset Coastal Authorities Group websitePeople who live along the North Devon and Somerset coastline between Hartland Point and Weston-super-Mare are invited to take part as stakeholders in a public consultation on the future of shoreline management in the area. The Environment Agency is running the consultation on behalf of the North Devon and Somerset Coastal Authorities Group (NDASCAG). The results of the consultation will be used to develop a strategy for managing flooding and erosion along this coastline. Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) provide large-scale assessments of flooding and coastal erosion and the associated risks and then look at ways to deal with the risks posed to people and the environment. Before SMPs, development often occurred without much knowledge about the effect it had on the coastline. The first SMP for this coastline was completed in 1998 and the current review will be completed in 2010. The plan will cover the stretch of coastline between Hartland Point in Devon, just west of Clovelly and Anchor Head in North Somerset, just north of Weston-super-Mare. Along this stretch of coastline there are thousands of residential and commercial properties which are at risk from tidal flooding and coastal erosion. In the future climate change and sea level rise is likely to increase this risk. The NDASCAG is currently compiling a list of people and organisations who might be interested in being involved with the consultation process. The aim is to compile a list of these stakeholders by the end of January 2008 and then send out further details to them of the next stage. For more information and to register as a stakeholder on-line, people can visit the following website www.ndascag.org Catchment Flood Management PlansThe Environment Agency are currently undertaking a programme to produce Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs) that cover an entire river catchment or group of catchments across England and Wales. A Catchment Flood Management Plan is a high-level planning tool. It will help the Environment Agency to work with other key decision-makers within a river catchment to identify and agree policies for sustainable flood risk management. CFMPs will improve our understanding of what factors influence floods and flood risk at the catchment scale. In gaining this understanding we will be able to determine the effect that potential changes in the catchment have on flood risk. Potential changes may include:
CFMPs will identify broad policies for the long term (up to 100 years) and assist future flood risk management planning. They will not identify specific flood risk reduction measures, e.g.by identifying specific flood defence schemes. Catchment Flood Management Plans in the South WestThere are currently 4 Catchment Flood Management Plans in the South West, click on the links below to view
Flood riskFlood risk cannot be eliminated, but can be reduced if the potential benefits outweigh the costs. According to new research from the Environment Agency (2006), flood damage is 30 times more damaging than burglary. Homeowners that are flooded stand to lose on average more than £28,000 compared to £900 if they are burgled, the Environment Agency warned today on the launch of its national flood awareness campaign. The Environment Agency believe that only 31% of homeowners living in flood risk areas have actually taken any steps to find out whether they are at risk from flooding, and just 10% of those people have signed up to the Environment Agency’s free Flood Warning service. In the South West, some 8% of all households are at risk from flooding and people must take action now to protect their homes before it is too late. When floods hit they can cause an enormous amount of damage, both financially and emotionally. Some 160,000 out of two million homes and businesses in the South West are situated in flood risk areas. The annual average damage from flooding in England and Wales is estimated at £1 billion and this figure is set to increase if the risk continues to be ignored. The Environment Agency's Flood Awareness Campaign highlights that we can reduce the effects of floods but cannot prevent them. There are simple ways to find out if you are at risk, and also easy steps you can take to prepare for flooding and to reduce the financial and emotional costs. The first step for people is to find out if they are at risk from flooding by visiting our website (www.environment-agency.gov.uk/floodline) or calling Floodline 0845 988 1188. For those living in flood risk areas some simple steps to prepare in the event of a flood are:
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI) (2004) weather risks are already increasing by 2 - 4 % per year on the household and property accounts due to changing weather. Claims for storm and flood damages in the UK have doubled to over £6 billion over the period 1998 - 2003, compared to the previous five years, with the prospect of a further tripling by 2050. Another ABI report into sustaining investment in flood management and defences (2004) reveals that the severe floods experienced in 2000 (see year 2000 flood section below) resulted in over 11,000 homes being flooded at a cost of around £1 billion to insurers in meeting weather-related claims. As can be seen in the graph below, severe floods in 1990, 2000 and 2002 resulted in significant peaks in insurance claims. Claim statistics for weather damage: 1988 - 2003
Source: Association of British Insurers (2004) Managing flood riskAlmost 2 million properties are at risk from flooding in England and Wales (Environment Agency - Reducing Flood Risk). The Environment Agency state that flood defences can not prevent all floods. A key element of flood risk management is the ability to plan for and manage flooding to reduce the risk to life and minimise the impact from floods. The seven key elements to managing floods are:
Planning applications objected to on flood risk grounds in the South WestBetween the 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007, the Environment Agency objected to 5,868 planning applications on flood risk grounds, an increase on the 4,200 objected to in 2005/2006 and the 4,634 in 2004/2005 (Environment Agency, 2007). In the South West, the Environment Agency objected to 843 planning applications on flood risk grounds during 2006 / 2007 (down from 865 in 2005/2006 and 846 in 2004/2005), accounting for 14% of the national tota of 5,868. This was the 3rd highest number of planning applications objected to in England & Wales, behind Wales with 1,118 and the East with 851. Of the 843 objections in the South West, the largest number found in a local planning authority area was in Sedgemoor with 7% of the regional total (61objections), followed by North Somerset with 6% (52 objections) and Bristol with 5% (39 objections). Planning applications in the South West objected to by the environment Agency on Flood Risk Grounds between 1/4/06 and 31/3/07
Source: Environment Agency (2007) Of these 843 planning applications objected to just 12 appeals were lodged. There were 33 cases where planning applications were approved by local planning authorities contrary to Environment Agency advice (25 of which were for minor residential developments, 2 for other major developments and 9 for other minor developments). Nationally, the total number of applications permitted against Environment Agency advice continues to fall. Local planning authorities in England gave permission for 13 major developments to go ahead during 2006/2007 against Environment Agency advice on flood risk. The developments included bungalows, houses, a holiday caravan site and infrastructure, such as access roads. The latest figures show that in cases where the Environment Agency objected on flood risk grounds and where local authorities had advised of the final outcome, 96% were in line with Environment Agency advice - up 1% since 2005/06. Mapping flood riskA web based facility has been produced by the Environment Agency to help you to find out whether you are at risk of flooding. Flood Map found on the What's in my Backyard facility will help you to find out:
Example of the Environment Agency's Flood Map, looking at the Sowton Industrial Estate in Exeter
Source: Environment Agency Flood Map (2004) Flood MapsThe Environment Agency's Flood Map provides a general overview of areas of land in natural flood plains and therefore potentially at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea. The maps use the best information currently available, based on historical flood records and flood models. They indicate where flooding from rivers, streams, watercourses or the sea is possible. Future versions of the Flood Map will show defences and areas benefiting from defences. The Environment Agency is making these maps widely accessible to make it easier for people to find out if they are in a flood risk area and what local flood warning arrangements exist. They also inform planners and developers and are a key tool in informing decisions on controlling development in flood plains. Flood defences and who is responsible for flood defences?The Environment Agency is responsible for flood defence, in terms of:
Local authorities (or internal drainage boards) are responsible for ordinary watercourses and maritime local authorities are responsible for coastal protection. Some flood defences can also be privately-owned and maintained. Flood defence work and schemes from the Environment Agency:Risk can be reduced by flood defence schemes, which must also be environmentally sensitive. Flood defence options include:
Flood Defence Committees, the Environment Agency, local authorities and drainage boards all have important roles in dealing with flood risk management. Buildings situated on flood plains are more susceptible to flooding. They also contribute to flooding because the water storage capacity of the area they have been built on has been reduced by hard, impermeable surfaces. There are steps that can offset this impact. For example, off-site storage of runoff and/or sustainable drainage systems (SUDs). The future of flood and coastal defenceAs part of the UK's response to the increasing threat from flooding, the Office of Science and Technology is looking to produce a long-term vision for flood and coastal defence in the UK. 'Foresight' looks 30 to 50 years into the future and assesses the importance of various threats such as climate change, changes to flood defences, demographic and economic change. Amongst the techniques used by the project is quantitative risk modelling with regional and national simulations. Having analysed a range of possible futures, the Project is now looking towards possible responses, such as managing flood events and losses and engineering for flood risk management. These responses will be used to inform future flood risk management policy and delivery. More information can be found on the Foresight website. The Foresight Future Flooding Report published in April 2004, looks at how climate change will influence flooding in the future. It is widely thought of as the most wide-ranging analysis of flood risk in the UK. It predicts that climate change will be an important factor in increasing flood risk, and that both the number of people in danger from flooding and the costs of damage from floods will significantly rise. It uses scenarios of potential social and economic changes, as well as information on climate change to help us understand the risks of flooding in future, and inform both public and Government bodies on what will need to be done to meet these risks. Wise Use of Floodplains ProjectThe Wise Use of Floodplains Project (an EU Life-Environment Project) details water and floodplain problems. These include:
The Somerset Levels and Moors and Parrett Catchment is a Wise Use of Floodplains case study. Further details of this case study are available on the Wise Use of Floodplains case study page. Parrett Catchment Project
Key Parrett Catchment Project objectives:
For more information about the aims, objectives and activities of the Parrett Catchment Project, visit their website. Key flood events in the South WestSummer 2007 flooding in GloucestershireDuring the summer of 2007, Gloucestershire experienced one of the worst emergencies this county has seen. Flooding, water shortages and power cuts affected large numbers of residents and businesses in one way or another. After a very dry April, the summer of 2007 was one of the wettest on record. Heavy rainfall at the end of June led to flooding in some areas in Gloucestershire, both from surface water overloading the drainage systems and very high water levels in main rivers and brooks. But during July, rains were even heavier. On 20th July, two months' rain fell in just 14 hours resulting in two emergencies – widespread flooding and water shortages. Impacts of the flooding
July 2007 properties affected by flooding
More information about the 2007 floods is available from Gloucestershire County Council. A full report on the 2007 floods in Gloucestershire is also available from Gloucestershire County Council. A review of the summer floods is also available from the Environment Agency. Update - July 2008: Thirteen hundred flood-hit families returned home in June Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced that the number of flood-hit families still out of their homes has fallen by a quarter in the last month and the number living in caravans has halved. The numbers not back home are falling faster and faster each month. This month's big drop means around 3,400 households are either living in temporary accommodation, in caravans or the top floor of their homes - down from 5,659 at the end of April and 4,716 at the end of May. In the same period those living in caravans has been cut by almost half to around 570 households - down from 1,429 in April and 1,094 in May. The number of council and housing association tenants still not back home is down by 100 to around 70 families. Initially 48,000 homes were affected by the last summer's floods. So despite the much wider scale flooding last summer figures compare well with the 2005 floods in Carlisle where 1,925 homes and businesses were affected with one in ten displaced households still not back after 18 months.
Information provided by local authorities setting out the total number of households still not fully back in their homes in each area as of 30 June 2008 is below. This includes the number of households in each area waiting to return to local authority or other social housing and those living wholly or partially in caravans.
Other major flood events in the South WestClick here for more information about: Year 2000 floods
October rainfall was double the normal amount and groundwater levels were already high. By the end of that month, many of the Region's soils were unable to absorb any more water. An additional problem in areas prone to coastal and tidal flooding was the combination of high spring tides and strong winds. As a result, many rivers reached their highest levels for many years, and in some cases the highest on record. In the South West 30,000 properties receive some protection from flooding. Under close monitoring and operation by the Environment Agency, these flood defence schemes performed well and stopped many from suffering flooding. In addition, 350 Flood Warnings were issued to allow people to ensure their personal safety and that of their belongings. About 955 homes and businesses across the Region were flooded, mostly in areas known to be at risk. There were no significant new problem areas. Defences were not overtopped, unlike elsewhere, so there was less flooding here than in other Regions (see graph below). Far fewer properties were flooded than in the last comparable event in the Region (40 years ago), when thousands were flooded. Properties protected and flooded: October/November 2000
Cornwall was probably the least affected area of the South West, although 63 properties were reported flooded and there were some dramatic rescues. Devon experienced extreme river flows, especially in Mid- and North- Devon. The Rivers Taw, Torridge and Exe were particularly high. For example, the Exe at Exeter was at its highest level since 1965 and came within inches of overtopping flood defences. 171 properties were flooded. In Dorset, the Stour, Avon, and the Frome in Dorchester were the worst affected. High tides and storms affected the beaches at Preston, Chiswell and West Bay, which needed re-profiling and replenishing in order to continue protecting the coast. In Somerset and the former county of Avon, the main problems were on the Rivers Tone, Chew and Bristol Avon. The Somerset Levels and Moors flooded, and were still being pumped out some weeks later. Ilchester, for example, is built on the banks of the River Yeo in a wide flood plain. There is a long history of flooding and the town was severely affected in 1979 when around 120 properties were flooded. In the 1980s a flood defence scheme of banks and walls was constructed and these have reduced the risk of flooding. There still remains the possibility that these could be overwhelmed by severe flood conditions. A joint flood plan has been agreed by the many organisations involved. NB: please note that in this section 'South West' refers to the Environment Agency SW Region. NOTE:All data & information used here that has been provided by the Environment Agency is covered by the Agency's standard data re-use licence. The licence conditions are viewable at http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/other/help/196644/?version=1&lang=_e
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Flooding
is a natural process. River channels can only carry so much water. Heavy
rain or sudden snowmelt can cause rivers to rise to the point where they
overflow. During a flood, excess water flows onto the low-lying areas
on either side of a river – the flood plains. 
The
South West faced the worst flooding for 60 years during the Winter of
2000/2001. 
Not
only were homes and businesses affected, but the Region's infrastructure
- our roads, rail links and utilities - was also badly hit.