Flood risk assessments for planning across Cornwall, Critical Drainage Areas, rapid-response rivers and over 400 miles of coastline.
Cornwall Council is both the Local Planning Authority and the Lead Local Flood Authority, and its planning requirements are integrated accordingly. CDA standing advice is one of the most common causes of pre-determination EA objection for developers unfamiliar with Cornwall’s planning environment. A brief pre-application check is the most effective way to establish whether your site is in a CDA before design work is committed.
Cornwall’s rapid-response catchments, its extensive coastline and the CDA designation create a planning environment unlike most of England. The peninsula’s geology, with granite moorlands feeding into short steep valleys, means that rainfall-to-runoff response times can be a matter of hours, sometimes less. The Boscastle flooding of August 2004, when approximately 75 million litres of water passed through the village in two hours, is an extreme example of what these catchments can do.
“A Flood Risk Assessment should be an engineering exercise, not a template report. At FPS Environmental every assessment is bespoke, focused on assessing flood risk thoroughly and supporting viable development.”
Simon Crowther BEng (Hons) FCIWEM C.WEM MIET
Director, FPS Environmental
Cornwall’s rivers are short, steep and rapid-responding. The Camel, Fowey, Fal, Helford, Looe, Lynher and Tamar all drain from moorland headwaters to estuaries within relatively short distances. Flooding in these catchments can develop very quickly during intense rainfall events, and the standard EA model data may not fully capture the speed of onset for smaller watercourses. Finished floor levels in FRAs for Cornwall valley settlements must be set with the speed of onset in mind, alongside the eventual flood depth.
Cornwall’s coastline extends to over 400 miles, including both north and south coasts with very different wave exposure and tidal conditions. The north coast faces Atlantic swell and storm wave conditions that require engagement with the EA’s coastal flood boundary datasets and the Shoreline Management Plans for the relevant management unit. The south coast estuaries, the Fal, Helford, Fowey and Tamar, present combined tidal and fluvial conditions. Sea level rise projections for the south-west peninsula are significant over a standard development lifetime and must be applied in full in coastal FRAs.
Cornwall Council as LLFA applies its own SuDS requirements to all major development across the county. South West Water’s drainage capacity should be confirmed early for development in existing urban areas, Truro, Bodmin, Penzance, Falmouth and Newquay all have drainage capacity constraints that are material for larger development proposals.
• Development in a Critical Drainage Area, regardless of flood zone
• Development in Flood Zone 2 or 3 along the Camel, Fowey, Fal, Tamar or any main river catchment
• Coastal development where tidal, wave overtopping and sea level rise risk must be assessed
• Development of 1 hectare or more in Flood Zone 1
• Development in valley settlements where rapid catchment response creates flash flood risk
• Development requiring a surface water drainage strategy under Cornwall Council SuDS guidance
We understand the Critical Drainage Area designation and its specific implications for planning applications in Cornwall. We can advise at pre-application stage on whether your site is within a CDA and what the assessment scope should be.
Our FRAs engage with EA river model data, coastal flood boundary data and the Shoreline Management Plans relevant to the site. We address the rapid catchment response characteristics of Cornwall’s steep river systems in our finished floor level and evacuation planning analysis.
We have staff based in Cornwall for site visits and cover all Cornwall Council planning areas.
Years combined civil & environmental engineering experience
Years delivering drainage, design and risk advisory
Projects including individual assets valued at £1 billion+
Drainage design and flood risk commissions delivered
Here are some of our latest testimonials from satisfied clients. If you’d like to discuss your requirements further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
We are a charity owning a large parcel of land where gathering water is then affecting neighbouring properties. Received expert flood risk and drainage advice from FPS Environmental Ltd. All dealings with them were timely and professional. Site visit arranged where we were able to fully discuss causes and solutions. Great peace of mind obtained from engaging their expertise.
Michael Rowell
Landowner
The report I received was for a Flood Survey which was very thorough and clearly a lot of work had gone into it. The team were always available and conscious of deadlines. I would definitely recommend them if you are looking to get a flood survey completed.
Mike Gray
We spent thousands of pounds on poor quality investigations before reaching out to FPS Environmental. Most surveyors over promised and underdelivered creating tremendous stress for me and my family. FPSE has been absolutely amazing from the very beginning. They treated us with respect and restored our faith in this industry. We are incredibly grateful to them and highly recommend the company to anybody who wants to get a top product and piece of mind.
George Albota
I have used FPS, Simon and his team on several occasions over the last few years to advise on the flood risk and mitigating factors on both houses and prospective businesses. They have deep expertise and contacts across the spectrum of flood management. In particular, I have found their assessment reports invaluable. Whilst they are understandably busy, they are good to deal with and I would have no hesitation recommending them to anyone who is looking for advice in the sector.
Richard Warburton
Business Owner
FPS was really helpful in providing consulting advice in connection with a residential property acquisition. Sebastian from FPS undertook the survey and followed up with a full report and a consultation call to run through everything. The basic desktop data suggested a high flood risk, but this property-specific survey allowed us to take a well-informed position following Sebastian’s advice. Great work – and he and the FPS team were really helpful throughout the process. I’d certainly recommend them.
Richard Brandon
Very impressed with FPS Environmental Ltd and the guidance we have received to date. We had an hour long online consultation with the principal surveyor, and it was extremely helpful and productive. Thank you FPS. Will use the company again and highly recommend.
Helen Sutherland
FPS were able to work to our schedule and fit in an appointment at short notice. There was great communication from the office staff keeping us informed of any changes or requirements before the site visit.
The site survey was very thorough and Simon very knowledgeable, and quite happy to answer all questions. The provided report was extensive with usable information and recommendations. I will use FPS in the future and happily recommend them to all of my clients.
Drew Kirkland-Crawford
Deadwood Services Ltd
Send us your project brief and we will come back with a scope and indicative fee. Where additional input is required, this is provided on a formal instruction basis.
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