Flood risk assessments for planning across Leicester City, Oadby and Wigston, Charnwood, Harborough and Blaby.
Leicester City Council published a comprehensive SFRA in 2022 that introduced ordinary watercourse flood extents as a direct planning constraint. The LLFA must now be consulted on all residential development of one dwelling or more in areas of OWFE risk, making Leicester one of the most granular planning environments in England for flood risk consultation. Many sites in the city that appear to be in Flood Zone 1 on the standard EA map fall within OWFEs. If you are relying only on the flood zone map to assess whether your site needs an FRA, you may be missing the constraint that is most likely to draw a planning objection.
Our Nottingham office is close to the Leicestershire boundary, and we can reach Leicester City quickly for site visits and pre-application meetings across the city and surrounding districts.
“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 River Soar has a broad floodplain across the south and west of Leicester City, with significant Flood Zone 3 areas at Aylestone Meadows, South Wigston, Birstall and through the city’s industrial fringe toward Thurmaston and Syston. The Leicester SFRA 2022 uses updated EA Soar model data and introduces OWFE mapping for smaller watercourses across the urban area. Sites within OWFEs require LLFA consultation even where the standard flood zone map shows no formal flood zone risk.
Leicester’s flood hydrology has a distinctive double-peak response that matters for FRAs on riverside sites. Urban tributaries respond quickly, within around five hours of heavy rainfall, due to the high proportion of impermeable surfaces across the city. A second, larger peak then arrives 12 to 24 hours later as rural headwater flows from south Leicestershire reach the city via the Soar and Sence. This two-stage response must be addressed in residual risk analysis for any development near the river. An FRA that assesses only the first peak is incomplete.
Surface water flooding is a significant issue across Leicester’s dense urban fabric. Severn Trent Water’s drainage network is under pressure, and drainage strategies for Leicester City applications must address the interface with the sewer system alongside on-site SuDS management. Leicestershire County Council as LLFA applies its own drainage requirements across the county areas surrounding the city.
• Development in Flood Zone 2 or 3 along the River Soar, Sence, Wreake or any tributary
• Development within ordinary watercourse flood extents, LLFA consultation required for one dwelling or more
• Development of 1 hectare or more in Flood Zone 1
• Development requiring a surface water drainage strategy under Leicester City or Leicestershire County Council requirements
• Sites where the Leicester SFRA 2022 identifies future climate change flood risk not shown on the standard map
• Change of use increasing flood vulnerability classification in any flood zone
We are familiar with the Leicester SFRA 2022, the OWFE mapping and the consultation requirements of Leicester City Council as LLFA. Our Nottingham-based team can attend site across Leicester City, Oadby and Wigston, Charnwood, Harborough and Blaby quickly.
Our FRAs engage with EA Soar model data directly, address the double-peak flood response for riverside sites and treat the OWFE mapping as a primary input rather than a secondary check. We prepare FRAs and surface water drainage strategies together for Leicester applications.
We have delivered flood risk and drainage work across the East Midlands for over 12 years and understand the specific requirements of Leicester City Council, the surrounding district councils and Leicestershire County Council as LLFA.
Our Leicstershire service forms part of our Flood Risk Assessment work delivered nationally across England and Wales.
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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