Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Flood risk from rivers or surface water is significant across Warwickshire, with around one in seven commercial properties and one in ten residential properties at risk. Recent flooding and ‘near miss’ events include:
- the Easter of 1998
- summer 2007
- the winters of 2012/13 and 2013/14
- February and March 2016
Increased flood risk poses a significant climate change challenge to the UK economy. Estimated flood damages in England have risen by around 60% over the past 25 years and already exceed £1 billion per year in direct costs to communities and business.
Under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), we became a lead local flood authority (LLFA), responsible for managing local flood risk. Within Warwickshire this is related to:
- surface water
- groundwater
- ordinary watercourses
To assist in the management of local flood risk, we were tasked to ‘develop, maintain, apply and monitor’ a local flood risk management strategy (LFRMS).
The LFRMS provides an overview and assessment of local flood risk in Warwickshire and how to manage and reduce local flood risk. It covers the county of Warwickshire comprising the five local authorities of:
- North Warwickshire
- Nuneaton and Bedworth
- Rugby
- Stratford upon Avon
- Warwick
The strategy is relevant for anyone who lives in, works in or visits Warwickshire to understand and help manage flood risk. It is relevant to all authorities with flood risk management responsibilities to ensure a common understanding of roles and responsibilities. The executive summary and sections one and two comprise the summary document of the LFRMS and should normally be read first. Alongside the strategy, the required Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) have been produced.
The strategy will be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary. It is important that the information contained within it is in line with national policy on the management of local flood risk.