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Flooding and FRA

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Phil Thomas

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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.

Flood Risk

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.

Early Project Stage Services

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.

SuDS & SAB

Civil engineering, drainage and sustainable design is part of our heritage, and we have been at the forefront of the SuDS regulations in Wales since their introduction in 2019. For more information, click here.

Our Flooding and FRA Projects

West Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth
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

Defence
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.  

Our Defence Experience

Complete Services

White City Central London

Masterplanning

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Foursite

Foursite

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Civils & Structures

Our specialised civil and structural engineering team work closely with our environmental services to deliver a joined up approach across every stage of the development process, from feasibility and planning submissions, to the construction of people-centric facilities. 

Explore this service

Geotechnical & Environmental

Our Geotechnical and Environmental expertise enables our clients to unlock the potential of sites and protect them from unforeseen challenges as they progress through their developments.  

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Further Reading

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Our Values

Being Human

We value people as people. We believe in fostering meaningful human connections that speak to the hearts and minds of our stakeholders, to build strong powerful relationships and communities that thrive and flourish.

Integrity

We say what we mean and mean what we say. Integrity lies at the heart of everything we do. It is the constant in the choices we make which builds trust, honesty, fairness, and respect for our colleagues and our clients alike.

Impact

Impact demonstrates the immeasurable power of our shared values and collective effort to effect positive, ground-breaking change and deliver excellence for our customers, colleagues, and the communities we serve.

Curiosity

We foster a culture of curiosity to help us constantly improve our work, inspire others to do better and think bigger, and to never stop learning.

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