Check Your Flood Risk — Tools & Useful Links
The official Environment Agency flood checkers, plus the SuDS, planning-policy and mapping resources we use every day — all in one place. Not sure what a result means for your site? We're happy to help.
Below are the tools and resources we rely on as flood risk and drainage consultants. Start with the flood map for planning to find your flood zone, and the long-term flood risk checker for a fuller picture. If a result shows your site is in Flood Zone 2 or 3 — or you're just not sure what it means — send us the address and we'll tell you, free, whether you need a Flood Risk Assessment.
Check your flood risk
The official Environment Agency tools — the best place to start before any application.
Check your long-term flood risk
Enter a postcode to see the long-term risk from rivers, sea, surface water, groundwater and reservoirs, including how climate change affects it. The starting point for understanding a site.
Open tool →Read our step-by-step guide →Flood map for planning
The EA's flood map used in planning — shows the flood zone (1, 2, 3) for a location. This is the map that determines whether your development needs a Flood Risk Assessment.
Open tool →Read our step-by-step guide →Check for flooding (live 5-day forecast)
Current flood alerts and warnings plus a 5-day forecast, and live river, sea, groundwater and rainfall levels from measuring stations near you.
Open tool →Read our step-by-step guide →Sign up for flood warnings
Free Environment Agency service to receive flood warnings by phone, text or email — essential for anyone on or near a flood-risk site.
Open tool →Read our step-by-step guide →Drainage & SuDS
Guidance and standards for surface water drainage and sustainable drainage systems.
susdrain — the UK SuDS community
The go-to UK resource for sustainable drainage: guidance, case studies, components and the SuDS community, run by CIRIA.
Open tool →Read our step-by-step guide →CIRIA (SuDS Manual C753)
CIRIA publishes The SuDS Manual (C753) — the industry-standard design guidance we work to on every drainage strategy.
Open tool →Non-statutory technical standards for SuDS
The government's technical standards for the design, maintenance and operation of SuDS, referenced by Lead Local Flood Authorities.
Open tool →Planning policy & guidance
The national policy that governs flood risk in the planning system.
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
The overarching planning policy for England, including the flood-risk 'Sequential' and 'Exception' Test requirements.
Open tool →PPG: Flood risk and coastal change
The Planning Practice Guidance that sits under the NPPF — how flood risk should be assessed and managed in planning decisions.
Open tool →EA flood risk assessment standing advice
The Environment Agency's standing advice setting out what an FRA must address for different developments and flood zones.
Open tool →Find your local council / LLFA
Find the Local Planning Authority and Lead Local Flood Authority for a site — the bodies that determine your application and drainage strategy.
Open tool →Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
Flood mapping and guidance for the devolved nations.
Natural Resources Wales — flooding
Flood risk maps for Wales and guidance for Flood Consequence Assessments under TAN15 / Planning Policy Wales.
Open tool →SEPA flood maps (Scotland)
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's long-term flood risk maps for river, coastal and surface water flooding.
Open tool →Flood Maps NI (Northern Ireland)
The Department for Infrastructure's strategic flood maps covering fluvial, coastal and surface water risk in Northern Ireland.
Open tool →Data & mapping tools
Free datasets we use for ground conditions, geology and designations.
DEFRA MAGIC Map
Government interactive map of environmental designations, priority habitats and rural data — useful for constraints screening.
Open tool →BGS Geology of Britain viewer
British Geological Survey map of bedrock and superficial geology — a first check for infiltration and soakaway feasibility.
Open tool →Planning Portal
Submit planning applications and access guidance on permitted development, application types and validation requirements.
Open tool →Not sure what your flood result means?
Send us your postcode and we'll tell you — free — whether your site needs a Flood Risk Assessment, and quote a fixed fee if it does.
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