Managing Flood Risk in Suffolk - Summary

Managing Flood Risk in Suffolk

A summary of the SuffolkFlood Risk Management

Strategy 2016

Suffolk Flood RiskManagement Partnership

March 2016

Introduction“Over 5.5 million properties in England and Walesare at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surfacewater. That’s one in six which means there’s a highchance one of these properties is your home orbusiness.” National Flood Forum

The winter floods of 2013-14 saw areas of theUnited Kingdon inundated with widespread,persistent flooding after severe storms andsignificant rainfall. In December 2013 the biggesttidal surge since 1953 battered the east coast ofEngand, flooding communities and causingmillions of pounds worth of damage. 2015 sawmore flooding, with December being the secondwettest the UK has experienced since recordsbegan. A series of heavy rainstorms causedwidespread surface water flooding as rainful fell onalready saturated land, affecting thousands ofhomes and businesses nationally.

Suffolk County Council is responsible for producing alocal plan with its partners, which sets out how they aremanaging flooding. The local plan is called the SuffolkFlood Risk Management Strategy. It is designed tohelp everyone in Suffolk understand and manage therisk of flooding, and sets out the responsilibiltes of allmajor stakeholders, including landowners, householdsand community groups. To manage flood risk inSuffolk everyone must play their part.

Our aim is to try to reduce the risk of flooding andthe effect it has, and to protect people’s safetyand wellbeing across Suffolk. The challenges are a

limit to the amount of public money available andthe increasing risk of flooding over time due toclimate change and further development. As aresult there is a need to:

1. Find new ways of doing things: Traditionalapproaches to managing flood and coastalrisk such as defences built by statutoryagencies (such as the Environment Agency orlocal councils) will need to be supplementedby everyone working together in theircommunity. This will involve innovative ideas,including working with nature and newapproaches to funding projects.

2. Taking individual action: It is important thateverybody recognises their responsibility to takeaction to protect themselves and their property.

Why now?The Suffolk Flood Risk Management Strategy wasfirst published in 2013 in response to the Flood andWater Management Act, 2010. Our strategy forSuffolk has been updated in 2016 to reflect newlegislation, improved knowledge and furtherdevelopment of local policy. The main legislativechange is that Local Planning Authorities are nowresponsible for ensuring sustainable drainage innew developments and mechanisms for theongoing maintenance of new sustainabledrainage systems. The new strategy gives astatement of intent and guiding principles to helpus manage flood risk together.

The full strategy document and appendices areavailable to download fromwww.suffolk.gov.uk/flooding.

What is meant by flooding? Flood risk is a combination of probability andconsequence. Flood risk in Suffolk is expected toincrease as a result of more frequent storms andsevere weather and rising sea levels. Deteriorationof the standard of flood protection provided byexisting drainage infrastructure and flood defencescan also increase flood risk, as can new

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SUFFOLK LOCAL FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY –MANAGING FLOOD RISK IN SUFFOLK – A SUMMARY OF THE SUFFOLK FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2016

Lowestoft Station Square flooded as re-sult of tidal surge in December 2013

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development and changes in land use thatreduce the permeability of land.

The strategy covers river and tidal flooding, as wellas local or flash flooding from surface water,groundwater or ordinary watercourses such asstreams and ditches. The strategy does not covercoastal erosion.

Suffolk County Council is responsible for taking thelead in dealing with flooding caused by surfacerunoff. This type of flooding is generally caused bylocalised heavy rainfall overwhemling drains and isincreasingly common.

The risk of flooding from rivers or the sea is morepredictable and is the responsibility of theEnvironment Agency. If you would like to know moreabout this please visit the Environment Agency’swebsite at https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood.

Understanding the riskFlooding is a natural phenomenon that can bemade worse if we fail to plan ahead and properlymanage our environment. Flooding can beunpredictable in both location and severity anddealing with these uncertainties can be extremelychallenging, particularly when it comes to surfacewater flooding. The first stage in managing floodrisk is to understand the extent and causes of theproblem and then to prioritise where attention andfunds should be focused.

The most effective way to manage flood risk is as apartnership between statutory bodies, local peopleand communities.

What does this mean for Suffolk?Suffolk has an extensive coast, estuaries and anetwork of rivers and low-lying land which,combined with its urbanised areas, means it is atrisk of flooding from a range of sources. Much ofSuffolk’s coastal area is at risk from flooding fromthe sea, particularly when there are high tidescombined with storms in the North Sea. Suffolk isranked number three in the national list of criticaltidal flooding locations. Most vulnerablecommunities on the coast understand the risk andare already working together and with agencies toensure they are prepared for the next big storm.

Areas most at risk from surface water flooding arethose with the highest concentration of propertiesand critical infrastructure (such as water treatmentworks and electricity sub stations). These are shownin the table overleaf. This does not mean that otherareas are not at risk.

We are gradually carrying out more detailedinvestigations in these towns and villages toconsider whether there is an environmentallyacceptable and cost-effective means of reducingthe flood risk from all sources. Because the moneyand resources available to Suffolk County Counciland other flood management organisations is

Flooded garden in Ipswich


limited, the ability to do anything about the risksmay be dependant on linking up with otheractivities and help from others. For example, avillage working to clean up the environmentalongside a stream could work with us to improvethe flow in the stream. This would result in betterflood management and a better place for peopleand nature. Major new developments areexpected to contribute to managing local floodrisks wherever possible.

How you can play your part The strategy is an important tool to guide localflood risk management and whilst Suffolk CountyCouncil working with Environment Agency take thelead, everyone has an important part to play,particularly the following:-

Suffolk residents should check whether theirhousehold is at risk from flooding and takemeasures to ensure their house is protected in theevent of a flood. By using www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood you can start to protect your household inthe event of a flood.

Members of the public can report floodingproblems and blocked drains at the earliestopportunity, helping us to find areas at risk offlooding, and undertake work in order to preventfurther flooding in the future. Please visitwww.suffolk.gov.uk/flooding

You can play your part by signing up for floodwarnings and preparing emergency plans for yourfamily and community to ensure everyone remainssafe in a flood. The useful booklet ‘What to dobefore, during and after a flood’ provides moreinformation about this and can be downloadedfrom https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/assets/Roads-and-transport/Flooding-and-drainage/2015-12-08-Flood-Guide.pdf .

Angilan Water

Babergh District Council

Broads Authority

Essex & Suffolk Water

East Suffolk Group of Internal Drainage Boards

Ely Group Internal Drainage Board

Environment Agency

Forest Heath District Council

Highways England

Ipswich Borough Council

Mid Suffolk District Council

Natural England

National Farmers Union

Regional Flood and Coastal Committee

St Edmundsbury Borough Council

Suffolk Coastal District Council

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk Resilience Forum

Waveney District Council

Waveney, Lower Yare & Lothingland InternalDrainage Board

LocationProperties at risk fromsurface water flooding

Ipswich 275

Lowestoft 110

Newmarket 90

Sudbury/Great Cornard 70

Haverhill 70

Bury St Edmunds 50

Felixstowe 40

Needham Market 40

Woodbridge 38

Stowmarket 25

Hadleigh 20

Brandon 10

*approximate numbers at risk in 2016

Suffolk Flood Risk Management Partnership

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Land and homeowners whose land adjoins awatercourse (known as ‘riparian’ owners) need tomake sure that the flow of water is not obstructedin any way. They can also help to maintain flooddefences. A watercourse is a river, stream or ditch.It may or may not always have water in it but willbe an important channel for water to flow duringheavy rainfall. Helping to keep water flowing, forexample by clearing drainage gullies or removingwaste, could make a big difference to whether the

area gets flooded or not. Riparian owners whowant to make any changes to streams and ditches– for example, putting in culverts or other structures,will need to talk to Suffolk County Council first, youcan find information at the following link -https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/flooding-and-drainage/working-on-a-watercourse-land-drainage-act-consent/ . Pleasecontact 01473 264658 if you would like to discussthis further or need practical help and advice.

Above: Example of a flood gate installed at anindividual property

Above: Example of a flood gate installed toa communal car parking area

Sustainable drainage system in Ipswich


Objective Key actions to achieve the objective

1 To improve the understandingof flood risks. Ensure thateveryone understands howthey can play their part inreducing the risks.

• The strategy explains the roles of organisations responsible for managing flood riskand the important roles that residents, businesses and land managers can play.

• We will give clear and consistent guidance to the public to understand flood riskand the actions they can take to manage risk and become more resilient toflooding.

• We will increase our understanding of surface water flood risks by building up abetter record of where flooding occurs and targeted investigations of the causesof flooding in areas that are most at risk (surface water management plans).

2 To work together (both statutoryorganisations and the public)to reduce flood and coastalrisks, using all availableresources and funds to thegreatest benefit.

• Organisations will work together through the Suffolk Flood Risk ManagementPartnership and the Suffolk Coast Forum to co-ordinate flood and coastal riskmanagement activities.

• Collectively we will work with local communities who wish to contribute to flood riskmanagement.

• Property and business owners will be encouraged to protect their property if theyare at risk from flooding. We will provide information and advice on this. We will alsopromote and support local emergency groups and parishes to prepare forflooding.

3 To prevent an increase in floodrisk as a result of developmentby preventing additional waterentering existing drainagesystems wherever possible.

• In line with updated government guidelines on sustainable drainage we willemphasise that there should be no increase in surface water flow from all futuredevelopment.

• We will make sure that planning decisions are based on up-to-date localinformation about flood risks and that there is a consistent approach across thecounty to managing surface water in new development.

4 To manage flood risk to takeaccount of the economy,environment and wider society,including taking action totackle climate change andmaking improvements underthe Water Framework Directive.

• We will promote the concept of multi-use spaces that will hold flood water, providespace for wildlife and local amenity areas as part of the master planning process.

• We will link flood and coastal erosion risk management with the River BasinManagement Plan and thus deliver improvements in water quality and quantityand aquatic ecology, wherever possible.

5 Encourage maintenance ofprivately owned flood defencestructures and ordinarywatercourses, and minimiseunnecessary constrictions.

• We will discourage further culverting of watercourses.

• We will ensure riparian owners are aware of their duties to keep watercourses clear.

Parish and town councils can encourage localgroups to prepare for flooding and provideinformation to and from their local community. Forhelp setting up an emeregncy group or withmaking emergency plans, contact the Suffolk JointEmergency Planning Unit on 01473 265321 or goto www.getpreparedednow.co.uk .

Builders and developers are very important inmanaging flood risk, regardless of how small thedevelopment is. Failling to properly consider flood

risk can not only put the new residents at risk butcan increase the risk for existing properties. Advicefor developers planning to build in a flood plaincan be found at https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/flooding-and-drainage/guidance-on-development-and-flood-risk/

This applies both to major new housing orcommercial developments and also tohomeowners laying a new driveway or extension.The collective effect of a number of people

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paving their gardens or laying impermeabledriveways for parking spaces can have asignificant effect on the risk of flooding in the area.

What are we aiming to achieve?Our overall aim is to ensure a sustainable approachthat supports and, where feasible, enhances theeconomy, environment and society in Suffolk.

From small-scale local activities to long-term majorplans, the strategy’s Action Plan sets out: what is

going to happen; when it is likely to happen; whowill be responsible for taking action; who else willbe involved and how it might be funded. TheAction Plan is regularly monitored by the SuffolkFlood Risk Management Partnership, and is subjectto political scrutiny. The table below summarisesthe Action Plan achievements 2012 – 2015.

Figure 7.2: Water Meadows in Bury St Edmundsin dry state (left) and after heavy winter rain-fall (right). An example of natural sustainabledrainage

Key Achievements 2012 - 2015

•Developed and promoted processes forreporting, recording and investigating floodingand flood assets – see Appendix D to the localstrategy

•Developed and disseminated local guidanceon surface water management and SuDS innew developments and implemented newlegislative requirements – see Appendix A tothe local strategy

•Developed and agreed policies for consentingof structures on watercourses and designationof flood risk assets – see Appendix B to the localstrategy

•Promoted guidance to riparian owners,businesses and householders to help theirunderstanding of flood risk, understand their

responsibilities and prepare for flooding.Includes publication of booklet What to dobefore, during and after a flood.

•Taken all opportunities to learn from otherpartnerships and share good practise – e.g.through Suffolk Coast Forum, LocalGovernment Association, workshops andconferences.

•Undertaken modelling and associatedpractical activities to reduce flood and coastalrisks in a number of areas.

•Undertaken S19 Investigations into significantflooding in Kesgrave, Sudbury, Lowestoft,Felixstowe and Lawshall, please seehttp://www.greensuffolk.org/about/SFRMP/FIR/.

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In an emergency especially if there is danger to life as a result of floodingyou should not hesitate to ring 999.

Environment Agency Floodline: 0345 988 1188for flood information and warnings.

For general enquires about river or sea flooding:contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506

To report flooding from sewers and water pipes:contact Anglian Water on 0800 771 881 (24 hours)

Flooding on the highway:Any incidents on major trunk roads (A14, A11 and A12 south of Ipswichand through north of Lowestoft) should be directed to Highways EnglandInformation Line: 0300 123 5000

For any other roads in Suffolk ring 08456 066 067 (office hours) or 01473 433444 (out of hours).

Non urgent reports of minor flooding or blocked drains or gullies can becompleted online. See www.suffolk.gov.uk/flooding for details.

For all other flooding and related issues:call 01473 260629 (office hours) or visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/flooding

Who to contact about flooding

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Managing Flood Risk in Suffolk - Summary