Environmental Permitting (E&W) Regs 2016 • Main Rivers & Flood Defences

EA Flood Risk Activity Permits Application & Supporting Assessment

Working in, over, under or near a main river or flood defence? We confirm whether you need a Flood Risk Activity Permit or exemption, then prepare and submit the full application to the Environment Agency.

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Main river & flood defence works
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Exemption vs permit advice
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Supporting flood modelling
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EA liaison & submission
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England & Wales

Environment Agency Flood Risk Activity Permits

A Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) is required under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 for many activities in, over, under or within 8 metres of a main river (16 metres for tidal main rivers), within 8 metres of a flood defence, or in the functional floodplain. If your scheme involves any of these, the Environment Agency’s permission is needed in addition to planning consent — and a planning permission alone does not authorise the works.

We assess your proposals against the EPR 2016 regime, confirm whether the activity is excluded, exempt (registration only) or requires a bespoke permit, and prepare the application with the supporting flood risk evidence the EA expects. We manage the process end to end so the permit does not become a programme risk on site.

What We Deliver

  • ✓ Permit screening — a clear determination of whether an exemption, exclusion or bespoke permit applies to your activity
  • ✓ Application preparation & submission — completed EA application, drawings and supporting statement, submitted on your behalf
  • ✓ Supporting flood risk assessment — conveyance, flood flow and storage impacts assessed where required
  • ✓ Floodplain compensation — level-for-level, volume-for-volume compensatory storage design where loss of floodplain occurs
  • ✓ Hydraulic modelling — 1D/2D modelling using EA Product 4/6 data to demonstrate no increase in flood risk to third parties
  • ✓ EA liaison — we handle technical queries and negotiate conditions through to determination
River channel beside development Aerial view of a river floodplain River and flood defence

When Is a Flood Risk Activity Permit Needed?

Not sure whether your works are caught? Send us your site location and proposals and we’ll screen it for free.

Works Near a Main River

Building, excavating, or placing structures within 8m of a main river (16m tidal), or any works in the channel itself, typically need a permit. Check whether your watercourse is a main river — if it is an ordinary watercourse, you need S23 consent instead.

Outfalls & Discharges

New or altered outfalls discharging surface water to a main river usually require a permit, with the headwall, invert and discharge rate all assessed against flood risk and conveyance.

Culverting & Structures

Culverts, bridges, weirs, and any structure over or under a main river affect flood flow and almost always require a permit supported by hydraulic assessment.

Works on or Near Flood Defences

Activity within 8m of a raised flood defence, wall or embankment — including landscaping and foundations — needs EA permission to protect the integrity of the defence.

Building in the Floodplain

Placing material, raising ground levels or building within the functional floodplain reduces flood storage and requires compensation, assessed and agreed through the permit.

Temporary Construction Works

Temporary causeways, scaffolding, dewatering and cofferdams in or near a main river during construction are also permitted activities.

Which Works Need a Permit — and Which Don't

The permitting system is tiered. Getting your activity into the right tier first is what saves the time and cost.

Not every activity near water needs a full permit. Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, a flood risk activity is either excluded (no permission needed), exempt (allowed, but must be registered with the Environment Agency), or requires a full Flood Risk Activity Permit. We work out exactly where your proposal sits before any application is made — so you don't pay for a permit you don't need, or get caught out by one you do.

When a permit is needed

Broadly, for works in, over, under or within 8 metres of a main river (16 m for a tidal main river), within 8 metres of a flood defence, or within the floodplain of a main river — including bridges, culverts, outfalls, walls, buildings, bank and bed works, and temporary works.

Main river vs ordinary watercourse

A permit only applies to a designated main river. Works to an ordinary watercourse are consented by the Lead Local Flood Authority instead, through Ordinary Watercourse Consent — so the first step is always confirming which one you're dealing with on the EA's main river map.

What we prepare

Where a permit is required we prepare and submit the application — location and works plans, a method statement, and any hydraulic modelling or flood risk information the EA asks for — and manage the EA liaison through to determination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit if I already have planning permission?
Yes — a Flood Risk Activity Permit is separate from planning. Planning permission does not authorise works affecting a main river or flood defence. Both consents are needed, and the EA permit is often the critical path, so it is best started early.
What’s the difference between an exemption and a permit?
Some lower-risk activities are exempt and only need to be registered with the EA; higher-risk activities need a bespoke permit with supporting assessment. A small number of activities are excluded entirely. We confirm which applies to your scheme before any fee is committed.
My watercourse isn’t a main river — what then?
If the watercourse is an ordinary watercourse rather than a main river, you need Ordinary Watercourse Consent (Section 23) from the LLFA or internal drainage board instead. We provide that service too — see our S23 consent page.
How long does a permit take?
The EA aims to determine standard applications within around two months of a valid submission, longer for complex bespoke permits. Submitting a complete, well-evidenced application first time is the single biggest factor in avoiding delay.
How much does it cost?
There is an EA application charge (set by the EA and varying with activity type) plus our fee for the screening, supporting assessment and submission. We provide a fixed-fee quote within 24 hours once we’ve seen your site and proposals.
How do I know if my watercourse is a 'main river'?
The Environment Agency publishes a main river map. If the watercourse is shown as main river, a Flood Risk Activity Permit (or an exemption) applies and the EA is the consenting body. If it isn't, it's an ordinary watercourse and the Lead Local Flood Authority consents the works instead. We check this at the outset so the right route is followed.
What's the difference between an exemption and a permit?
Exempt activities are lower-risk works you're allowed to carry out but must register with the EA before starting — quicker and cheaper than a permit. A full permit is needed for higher-risk activities and involves a formal application the EA determines. Getting the classification right is where most time and cost is saved.
How long does an EA permit take?
Once a valid application is submitted, the Environment Agency has a target determination period (typically around two months for a standard permit, longer for more complex activities). Building this into your programme early is important — we advise on realistic timescales for your specific works.

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Free, no-obligation fixed-fee quote within 24 hours. All flood zones and LLFAs covered across England and Wales.

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