Flood Risk Assessments in Lancashire

The River Ribble is the largest river in Lancashire, draining from the Pennines through Settle, Clitheroe, Ribchester and Preston to the Irish Sea at the Ribble Estuary. The Ribble floodplain through Preston – including the areas around Preston Dock, Penwortham, Walton-le-Dale and Bamber Bridge – generates significant flood risk that must be addressed in FRAs for any development near the river corridor. The Ribble Estuary presents additional tidal risk in the lower reaches, and the wide tidal floodplain in the west of the Preston authority area is predominantly rural but must be considered for any development in these low-lying western areas. The Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme is an active programme addressing flood risk along the Ribble corridor.

The River Lune flows through Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster to the Lune Estuary at Glasson Dock, with significant Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas through Lancaster city centre. The River Wyre flows through Garstang and Poulton-le-Fylde to the Wyre Estuary at Fleetwood, creating flood risk along its corridor and on the Fylde coast. Blackpool, Lytham St Annes and Cleveleys face coastal flood risk from the Irish Sea, with tidal defences that must be factored into FRAs for development along the Fylde coast.

The Pennine catchments of east Lancashire – including the Calder at Burnley, the Darwen through Blackburn and the Irwell headwaters in Rossendale – respond rapidly to rainfall and have documented flood histories in their valley towns. United Utilities’ drainage network applies across the county, and drainage strategies for Lancashire applications must address UU capacity constraints alongside on-site SuDS management.

• Development in Flood Zone 2 or 3 along the Ribble, Lune, Wyre, Douglas, Calder, Darwen or any tributary
• Development near the Ribble Estuary, Lune Estuary or Wyre Estuary where tidal risk must be assessed
• Coastal development in Blackpool, Lytham St Annes or Fleetwood where Irish Sea tidal risk applies
• Development covered by the Central Lancashire Level 2 SFRA 2024 requiring site-specific assessment
• Development of 1 hectare or more in Flood Zone 1
• Development requiring a surface water drainage strategy under Lancashire County Council, Blackpool or Blackburn with Darwen LLFA guidance

We understand Lancashire’s complex governance structure – the difference between LCC as LLFA, the unitary authority LLFAs in Blackpool and Blackburn, and the twelve LPA districts – and how to route a planning application correctly through the relevant consultation process. Getting this right saves time.

We are familiar with the Central Lancashire Level 1 and Level 2 SFRAs 2024, the Lancaster SFRA and the specific FRA requirements for sites in the Ribble, Lune and Wyre catchments. Our FRAs engage with EA model data directly.

We cover all Lancashire districts including Preston, South Ribble, Chorley, Lancaster, Wyre, Fylde, Blackpool, Burnley, Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, Pendle, West Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.