Flood risk assessments for planning across Leeds and West Yorkshire, River Aire, Wharfe, the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme and surface water flooding.
Leeds has a higher volume of flood risk assessment work than almost any other city in the north of England. The Boxing Day 2015 floods set new records on both the Aire and the Wharfe, submerging hundreds of properties across Kirkstall, Horsforth, Knaresborough and York and causing an estimated 500 million pounds of damage across Yorkshire. That event remains a live reference point for how the Environment Agency and Leeds City Council approach planning applications in the city, and it informs the specific requirements of the Leeds SFRA 2022.
One of the most common errors on Leeds FRA applications is the treatment of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. The FAS provides improved protection along the Aire corridor, but it does not remove the FRA requirement. Development in defended areas still requires an assessment that addresses residual risk and breach failure scenarios. Applications that simply reference the FAS as providing adequate protection, without addressing what happens if the defences are overtopped, are a regular cause of EA holding directions in Leeds.
“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
The Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 1 and Phase 2 provide improved protection along the Aire corridor from the city centre through Kirkstall, Armley and Rodley. Leeds City Council published an updated SFRA in 2022 that reflects the changed flood risk landscape post-FAS. Defended areas along the Aire through Leeds city centre, Holbeck, Hunslet and the South Bank regeneration zone still require FRAs addressing residual risk and breach failure. The South Bank regeneration area, one of the largest city centre regeneration programmes in Europe, sits adjacent to the Aire floodplain and generates significant FRA demand.
Beyond the FAS footprint, significant Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas exist along the Wharfe through Otley, Pool, Harewood, Wetherby and Tadcaster; along the Aire through Castleford, Knottingley and Ferrybridge; and on numerous tributary becks throughout the Leeds urban area. Sites in these locations require FRAs that engage with EA Aire and Wharfe model data without the benefit of any flood alleviation scheme protection.
Surface water flooding is a significant and growing concern across Leeds’s Victorian drainage catchments. Holbeck, Beeston, Armley, Harehills and Seacroft all have documented surface water flood risk from drainage systems under increasing rainfall pressure. Yorkshire Water’s drainage capacity constraints apply across the city, and drainage strategies must demonstrate how surface water will be managed on site.
We understand how flooding behaves in this catchment from direct experience on the ground, not just from model outputs. That knowledge is relevant whether we are assessing a city centre regeneration site or a rural barn conversion near the Trent valley.
• Development in Flood Zone 2 or 3 along the Aire, Wharfe or any tributary
• Development in Leeds FAS defended areas where residual risk and breach failure analysis is required
• Development in the South Bank regeneration area adjacent to the Aire floodplain
• Wharfe valley sites in Otley, Wetherby or Tadcaster where no FAS protection applies
• Development of 1 hectare or more in Flood Zone 1
• Development requiring a surface water drainage strategy under Yorkshire Water and Leeds City Council requirements
We understand the Leeds FAS, the SFRA 2022 framework and the specific residual risk requirements for defended areas along the Aire corridor. We know the difference between sites that are genuinely protected by the scheme and those that remain in functional floodplain despite the defences, and our assessments reflect that distinction accurately.
Our FRAs engage with EA Aire and Wharfe model data and are prepared by qualified flood risk consultants. We prepare FRAs and surface water drainage strategies together for Leeds applications.
We cover Leeds City and the wider West Yorkshire area including Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield.
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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