Flooding and FRA

Home
What We Do
Flooding and FRA

Contact

Email me

Phil Thomas, Regional Director

Flood Risk Services at Pre-Planning

At Curtins, we provide robust, planning‑compliant Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) that help unlock development potential while ensuring long‑term resilience for people, places and infrastructure. Our experienced flood risk and drainage specialists work closely with clients, regulators, local authorities and design teams to provide clear, actionable strategies that meet national policy and local authority requirements.

As engineering consultants with deep experience across the full built environment lifecycle, from early site due diligence and pre‑planning through design, construction and ongoing maintenance, we bring valuable insight into de‑risking complex challenges. By identifying issues early and integrating our wider civils, structural, transport planning and environmental specialisms, we help ensure a smooth planning process and deliver coordinated, resilient outcomes for every project.

Our Flood Risk Services include:

Flood Risk Assessments (FRAs) / Flood Consequence Assessment to support planning applications
Open Channel Hydraulics
Surface Water Drainage Strategies
Pipe-Network Modelling
Drainage Strategies
Evacuation Planning
Flood Risk Permitting (FRAP)
Hydraulic Modelling
Sequential and Exception Tests

Our FRAs not only identify potential sources of flood risk, they also outline clear, pragmatic recommendations to ensure the safe development and long‑term operation of the site. This includes:

Assessment of site vulnerability and development compatibility
Recommendations for safe access and egress
Mitigation measures to reduce flood risk
Advice on finished floor levels and flood resilience
Clear conclusions aligned with planning policy tests

We liaise directly with the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales, SuDs Approvals Board, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Risk Management Authority, Internal Drainage Boards and utility providers where needed, ensuring a smooth and coordinated approach throughout.

Our Engineers Specialise in Flood Risk

Evidence‑Led Flood Risk Advice

Every development is unique, and so are the flood‑related challenges they face. Curtins’ FRA service assesses all potential sources of flooding to your site and helps our clients strategise management measures to address:

Fluvial (River) Flooding
Tidal Flooding
Pluvial (Surface Water) Flooding
Overland Flow Routes
Groundwater Flooding (GWF)
Sewer Flooding
Risks Associated with New Drainage Infrastructure (Alongside Drainage Strategies)
Reservoir Inundation Mapping and Breach Assessments
Impacts of climate change and future flood scenarios

Our assessments follow the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and relevant Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) guidance, ensuring your planning application is fully supported with compliant, high‑quality technical evidence.

Drainage Strategies

Our expert teams can provide additional Surface Water and comprehensive Drainage Strategies, aligned with Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) guidance.

This includes:
Assessment of infiltration potential (supported by ground investigation data)
Surface water disposal following the SuDS hierarchy
Concept drainage layouts
System sizing and hydraulic calculations
Foul drainage connection strategy

This combined approach provides developers with a single, coordinated drainage and flood risk package, supporting efficient planning, cost certainty and a smoother path through technical approvals.

Flood Risk Permitting

Flood Risk Permits are required in England and Wales for sites near main rivers, sea defences, or within floodplains. Our team can support you in obtaining these permits, as well as Ordinary Watercourse or Land Drainage consents, bringing in deep experience with regulatory frameworks to achieve a smooth approvals process.

Environmental Statements

We prepare robust Environmental Statement chapters, which are supported by Flood Risk Assessments and Drainage Strategies, as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. Our work helps you understand and mitigate the water related impacts of your development, ensuring it protects the wider environment and meets all regulatory expectations.

We are specialists in Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering

Click below for more information on our Geotechnical & Environmental expertise.

Geotechnical & Environmental

Our Flooding and FRA Projects

Arts & Culture

Curtins delivered civil engineering solutions for the refurbishment of West Norwood Cemetery, tackling drainage and subsidence issues threatening listed heritage structures.

West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth

Secure Buildings

Our secure projects range in value from £1m to over £100m and includes new builds and multi-phase masterplans, as well as refurbishments and every-day, yet essential, investigations and appraisals.