Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report December 2009 Managing Flood Risk We Are the Environment Agency

Home , Eamont Bridge, Eden District, River Caldew, River Eamont, Solway Plain

Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Summary Report December 2009 managing flood risk We are the Environment Agency. It’s our job to look after your environment and make it a better place – for you, and for future generations. Your environment is the air you breathe, the water you drink and the ground you walk on. Working with business, Government and society as a whole, we are making your environment cleaner and healthier. The Environment Agency. Out there, making your environment a better place.

Published by:

Environment Agency Richard Fairclough House Knutsford Road Warrington WA4 1HT Tel: 0870 8506506 Email: [email protected] www.environment-agency.gov.uk

I am pleased to introduce our summary of the Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan (CFMP). This CFMP gives an overview of the flood risk in the Eden catchment and sets out our preferred plan for sustainable flood risk management over the next 50 to 100 years.

The Eden CFMP is one of 77 CFMPs for England and significant flood event in recent years occurred in Wales. Through the CFMPs, we have assessed inland January 2005, when flooding affected approximately flood risk across all of England and Wales for the first 2700 residential properties across the catchment, time. The CFMP considers all types of inland flooding, Carlisle being badly affected. In the future it is from rivers, groundwater, surface water and tidal estimated climate change could increase the number flooding, but not flooding directly from the sea (coastal of properties at risk to 4800 residential and 1060 flooding), which is covered by Shoreline Management commercial across the Eden catchment. Plans (SMPs). Our coverage of surface and groundwater We cannot reduce flood risk on our own, we will is more limited due to a lack of available information. therefore work closely with all our partners to improve The role of CFMPs is to establish flood risk management the co-ordination of flood risk activities and agree policies which will deliver sustainable flood risk the most effective way to manage flood risk in management for the long term. This is essential if we the future. To develop this plan and ensure social, are to make the right investment decisions for the economic and environmental issues were taken future and to help prepare ourselves effectively for into account, we worked with, and consulted, many the impact of climate change. We will use CFMPs to organisations These include all local authorities, help us target our limited resources where the risks United Utilities, DEFRA, Eden Rivers Trust, Lake District are greatest. National Park, Natural England and the Forestry Commission. This CFMP identifies flood risk management policies to assist all key decision makers in the catchment. It was This is a summary of the main CFMP document, if you produced through a wide consultation and appraisal need to see the full document an electronic version process, however it is only the first step towards an can be obtained by emailing enquiries@environment- integrated approach to Flood Risk Management. As we agency.gov.uk or alternatively paper copies can be all work together to achieve our objectives, we must viewed at any of our offices in North West Region. monitor and listen to each others' progress, discuss what has been achieved and consider where we may need to review parts of the CFMP.

In the Eden catchment there is flood risk from its rivers, surface water and sewers. No significant areas within the catchment are at risk of tidal flooding. There are 4500 residential and 1000 commercial properties Tony Dean at a 1% annual risk of flooding from rivers. The most Regional Director

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 1 Contents

The purpose of a CFMP in managing flood risk 3

Catchment overview 4

Current and future flood risk 6

Future direction for flood risk management 10

Sub-areas 1 Upper and Middle Eden 12 2 Rural Lowther, Eamont and Eden Valley 14 3 Eden Market Towns 16 4 Carlisle City sub-area 18 5 Burgh by Sands 20 6 Rural Caldew and Petteril 21

Map of CFMP policies 22

2 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan The purpose of a CFMP in managing flood risk

CFMPs help us to understand the • Internal Drainage Board, water CFMPs aim to promote more scale and extent of flooding now companies and other utilities to sustainable approaches to managing and in the future, and set policies help plan their activities in the flood risk. The policies identified in for managing flood risk within the wider context of the catchment. the CFMP will be delivered through a catchment. CFMPs should be used combination of different approaches. • Transportation planners. to inform planning and decision Together with our partners, we making by key stakeholders such as: • Landowners, farmers and will implement these approaches land managers who manage through a range of delivery plans, • The Environment Agency, who will and operate land for projects and actions. use the plan to guide decisions agriculture, conservation on investment in further plans, The relationship between the CFMP, and amenity purposes. projects or actions. delivery plans, strategies, projects • The public and businesses to and actions is shown in figure 1. • Regional planning bodies and enhance their understanding local authorities who can use of flood risk and how it will the plan to inform spatial be managed. planning activities and emergency planning.

Figure 1 The relationship between CFMPs, delivery plans, projects and actions

Policy planning • CFMPs and Shoreline Management Plans. • Action plans define requirement for delivery plans, projects and actions.

Policy delivery plans (see note) Projects and actions • Influence spatial planning to reduce risk • Make sure our spending delivers the best and restore floodplains. possible outcomes. • Prepare for and manage floods • Focus on risk based targets, for example (including local Flood Warning plans). numbers of households at risk. • Managing assets. • Water level management plans. • Land management and habitat creation. Note: Some plans may not be led by us – we may • Surface water management plans. identify the need and encourage their development.

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 3 Catchment overview

It is useful to draw out some The Eden Valley contains areas of most significant being the River general characteristics that are high quality farmland in the low Eden itself and the Upper Solway most important in our management lying areas, and less intensive Flats & Marshes SAC; these lie at of flood risk. The principal farming in the foothills of the North the confluence of the Eden with the watercourses are the Eden, Eamont, Pennines. There are also some Solway Firth. Irthing, Petteril and the Caldew, areas of intensively managed Development pressure in Cumbria with a total catchment area of pasture on the Solway Plain. is not perhaps as great as in other approximately 2400 km2. The However, the main land use is parts of the country. However catchment is predominately rural livestock with grazing pasture. Carlisle, Penrith and Appleby are with only 1% classified as urban. Agriculture forms an important identified for growth as part of the Around 244,000 people live in the part of the local and regional Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and catchment, the principal population economy, with tourism growing in are locations at flood risk. centres are Carlisle, Penrith and importance. The rural nature of the Appleby. catchment provides an opportunity to manage land use to reduce run- The upper catchment is dominated off and increase the time between by the steep gradients of Skiddaw, rainfall and peak flows. However, Helvellyn and surrounding fells. holding water for longer periods Below Kirkby Stephen, the Eden’s of time on agricultural land can valley widens. The Lower Eden is lead to increased crop damage and characterised by wide floodplains adversely affect rural economies. and washlands. These areas are important in providing storage The Eden Catchment is highly capacity during high water levels. significant for landscape, cultural The catchment is subjected to heritage and nature conservation. some of the highest rainfalls in Thirty percent of the area lies England. Upstream of Penrith, within Areas of Outstanding Natural average annual rainfall exceeds Beauty (AONB) with a further 2800mm compared to 920mm 30% designated as landscape of across England and Wales. In the county importance. A large part upper catchment, high rainfall and of the study area lies within the the steep terrain make the Eden a Lake District National Park. The ‘fast-responding’ catchment where catchment has over 550 Scheduled high river levels occur soon after Ancient Monuments. Hadrian’s Wall heavy rainfall, and it can reduce the is designated as a World Heritage time available to provide advanced Site. There are several Special warning of flooding. Areas of Conservation (SACs), the

4 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Map 1 Main features

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 5 Current and future flood risk

Overview of the current flood risk

Flood risk has two components: the vulnerable to river flooding and areas of Carlisle. It is likely that chance (probability) of a particular the tributaries they are on, the flooding was caused by flood and the impact (or eventually flow into Carlisle. The hydraulic overload of the sewer consequence) that the flood would response times are short in the system. In January 2005, foul and have if it happened. The probability upper reaches of this catchment. surface water sewers became of a flood relates to the likelihood of locked by the high level of the • Tidal flood risk is not significant a flood of that size occurring within Eden and prevented discharging in this catchment. Although the a one year period, it is expressed as which resulted in overflowing of Eden flows out into the Solway a percentage. For example, a 1% the sewers. Firth, only a few isolated flood has a 1% chance or locations have been identified probability of occurring in any one that are at risk from a 0.5% tidal year, and a 0.5% flood has a 0.5% What is at risk? event. Analysis has shown that chance or probability of occurring in tide levels in excess of those in any one year. The flood risks quoted Using models for the main rivers January 2005 would have no in this report are those that take and flood maps on the less effect on the river levels in account of flood defences already in significant tributaries we estimate, Carlisle. place. there are 4500 residential and 1000 commercial properties at a 1% • Groundwater flooding is not a The Eden catchment has been annual risk of flooding from rivers. significant issue in this catchment subject to several historical severe There are significant areas of in its own right, due to the nature flooding events mainly affecting agricultural land at risk from river of the catchment geology. Carlisle, Penrith and Appleby. The flooding, potentially leading to However, it may contribute to most significant recent event was in livestock and crop damage. The flooding in association with river 2005 where 2700 properties were most significant flood event in and rainfall events. flooded, 75% of which were in recent years occurred in January Carlisle, and there were two • Surface water flooding does 2005, when flooding affected fatalities. The flow rates and flood occur in the Eden catchment. At approximately 2700 residential water levels for this event were the present, there are relatively few properties across the catchment. In highest on record. records of property flooding due Carlisle, the cost of the January to surface water alone. Based on 2005 flood has been estimated at The main sources of flooding in the information available, it is over £400 million. There are 12 Eden catchment are as follows: thought to be high in frequency environmental sites and seven • River flooding from the River but low in consequence. There scheduled ancient monuments in Eden occurs in its steeper middle are complex interactions between the 1% flood zone. Some of these course in the semi–rural ordinary watercourses, sewers sites may not be adversely affected communities of Appleby, Warwick and surface water and the graph by a flood, but further work needs to Bridge and Wetheral. Further in figure 2 gives an indication of be done in this area to assess the downstream, the river changes the sources of flooding from the risk. character into a wide floodplain January 2005 event. where at Carlisle it is influenced • Sewer flooding has been by tributary inflows. Penrith and recorded in some of the urban Eamont Bridge are also

6 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Where is the risk? Table 1. The areas with the highest concentration of properties currently at risk from a 1% annual probability fluvial flood: The Eden catchment has been subject to several historical severe Number of properties at risk Locations flood events. Carlisle, Penrith and Appleby are at greatest flood risk in Over 500 Carlisle terms of the number of individual properties affected. There are other 151 to 500 Appleby, Penrith; Eden Valley (Low smaller settlements particularly in Crosby, Warwick Bridge and the Eden Valley (Low Crosby, Wetheral) Warwick Bridge and Wetheral) and close to Penrith (Eamont Bridge) 51 to 150 Eamont Bridge that are vulnerable to flooding. The main locations at flood risk across 25 to 50 Kirkby Stephen, River Roe the catchment are illustrated in catchment (Stockdalewath and table 1. Thistlewood).

We recognise the potential risk from surface water and sewer flooding. Table 2. Critical infrastructure at risk: However, further studies, following on from the CFMP, will be 14 Electricity sub stations, 8 Medical centres, 10 Schools and 9 Waste undertaken to quantify this water treatment works potential risk.

Figure 2 Source of flooding from Jan. 2005 event

Flooding from sewerage 8% infrastructure

Flooding from surface water 25% drains 50% Flooding from ordinary watercourse

Flooding from main river 17% Demountable defences at Carlisle

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 7 Map 2 Where are the areas at flood risk

How we currently manage the risk in the catchment

Almost 90% of the properties at risk 1%. Further studies are being Activities that reduce the probability in the Eden catchment are in Carlisle. undertaken to improve the of flooding include: Carlisle has benefited together with standard of protection in the • Identifying and promoting new other towns, from engineering undefended Sands area of the flood alleviation schemes where schemes put in place over the last 50 town. appropriate. Recent studies have years or more. Including: • Detailed design is currently been undertaken in Appleby and • The construction of a two-phase underway for new defences to Penrith. flood defence scheme in Carlisle. protect Penrith and construction • Maintaining and improving The first phase has been work is planned to start in 2010. existing flood defences, completed, and phase 2 should In addition to these engineering structures and watercourses. The be completed during 2010. The schemes, other flood risk Eden has over 60km of river scheme is designed to provide a management activities are carried defences. 0.5% standard of protection. out in the catchment. These include • Enforcement and maintenance • Raised defences that were built activities, which help to reduce the where riparian owners carry out early in the 1990s along the River likelihood of flooding, and those that work detrimental to flood risk. Eden at Appleby provide a address the consequences of Standard of Protection (SOP) of flooding.

8 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan The impact of climate change and future flood risk

• Working with local authorities to In the future, flooding will be the onset of flooding is predicted to influence the location, layout and influenced by climate change, occur earlier, possibly reducing the design of new and redeveloped changes in land use (for example time to provide flood warnings. property and ensuring that only urban development) and rural land Without further flood alleviation, appropriate development is management. In the River Eden the number of properties suffering allowed on the floodplain catchment, sensitivity testing flood depth of between 0.5 and through the application of revealed that climate change has 1.0m would double in Carlisle city Planning Policy Statement 25 the greatest impact on flood risk, centre during a 1% annual (PPS25). with land management change, and probability event (APE). Peak flows urbanisation having a much smaller in Penrith and Appleby are also Activities that reduce the effect. A typical catchment requires predicted to increase by 15-20%, consequences of flooding include: a 10% covering of forest to produce and will likely affect the depth and a 2% reduction in outflow. Whilst ew frequency of flooding. At Warwick • Flood risk mapping, do not know exactly what will happen Bridge, Lower Eden Valley, climate understanding where flooding is in the future, the key trends are: change is predicted to increase the likely to occur. number of properties at risk of • More frequent and intense flooding. Eamont Bridge is also at • Operation of Floodline and storms causing more widespread increased risk of flooding because warning services to over 2,000 flooding from drainage systems of climate change. properties. and some rivers. The graph below shows the • Providing flood incident • Wetter winters increasing the difference between current and management. likelihood of large-scale flooding. future flood risks from a 1% event at • Promoting awareness of flooding The future scenarios used in the key locations across the catchment. so that organisations, River Eden CFMP concentrated on Following on from the CFMP, communities and individuals are climate change only and assumed a organisations need to work together aware of the risk and are 20% increase in peak flow in all to investigate flood risk from other prepared in case they need to watercourses. The predicted sources (eg surface water and sewer take action in time of flood. increase in flow can affect the flooding) in more detail. frequency, timing, scale of flooding The extent of flooding on all • Promoting resilience and and the flood levels. resistance measures for those environmental sites will increase as properties already in the The greatest impact is predicted in a result of climate change and two further sites are potentially at risk. floodplain. Many properties on the main urban areas. In Carlisle, the Sands at Appleby have Figure 3 Current and future (2100) flood risk to property from a 1% annual benefited from flood resistance probability river flood, taking into account current flood defences. and resilience measures in a trial project funded by Defra. 3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000 * On completion of defences (Jan 2010) in Carlisle approximately 3,000 properties will

Number of Properties at Flood Risk at Properties Number of 500 be protected from river flooding to a 0.5% standard of protection. 0 Appleby Penrith Eamont Lower Eden - Carlisle * Carlisle - Bridge Warwick Bridge Denton Holme

Current Future

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 9 Future direction for flood risk management

Approaches in each sub-area

We have divided the Eden CFMP area building and raising defences. This This document does set out our into six distinct sub-areas based on is why we have to look at the whole policies for managing flood risk, their physical characteristics, catchment and how we direct effort recognising the constraints that do sources of flooding and levels of and resources to ensure sustainable exist. Our future direction for risk. These sub-areas will allow us solutions. We have assessed what managing flood risk is expressed by and the key stakeholders to will be the most sustainable applying one of our six standard promote flood risk management approach to managing flood risk in policy options to that sub area. To approaches, policies and actions each sub-area. This is presented in select the most appropriate policy, that are most appropriate to deliver the following sections that outline; the plan has considered how social, the various Government and economic and environmental • The key issues in that area. regional strategies, in particular the objectives are affected by flood risk Making Space for Water strategy. • The vision and preferred policy. management activities under each When facing increasing risk, it is policy option. The six policy options • The proposed actions to often not sustainable to keep are explained on page 11. implement the policy. Map 3 Sub-areas

10 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Table 3 Policy options ➜ Policy 1 Areas of little or no flood risk where we will continue to monitor and advise This policy will tend to be applied in those areas where there are very few properties at risk of flooding. It reflects a commitment to work with the natural flood processes as far as possible.

➜ Policy 2 Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we can generally reduce existing flood risk management actions This policy will tend to be applied where the overall level of risk to people and property is low to moderate. It may no longer be value for money to focus on continuing current levels of maintenance of existing defences if we can use resources to reduce risk where there are more people at higher risk. We would therefore review the flood risk management actions being taken so that they are proportionate to the level of risk.

➜ Policy 3 Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we are generally managing existing flood risk effectively This policy will tend to be applied where the risks are currently appropriately managed and where the risk of flooding is not expected to increase significantly in the future. However, we keep our approach under review, looking for improvements and responding to new challenges or information as they emerge. We may review our approach to managing flood defences and other flood risk management actions, to ensure that we are managing efficiently and taking the best approach to managing flood risk in the longer term.

➜ Policy 4 Areas of low, moderate or high flood risk where we are already managing the flood risk effectively but where we may need to take further actions to keep pace with climate change This policy will tend to be applied where the risks are currently deemed to be appropriately-managed, but where the risk of flooding is expected to significantly rise in the future. In this case we would need to do more in the future to contain what would otherwise be increasing risk. Taking further action to reduce risk will require further appraisal to assess whether there are socially and environmentally sustainable, technically viable and economically justified options.

➜ Policy 5 Areas of moderate to high flood risk where we can generally take further action to reduce flood risk This policy will tend to be applied to those areas where the case for further action to reduce flood risk is most compelling, for example where there are many people at high risk, or where changes in the environment have already increased risk. Taking further action to reduce risk will require additional appraisal to assess whether there are socially and environmentally sustainable, technically viable and economically justified options.

➜ Policy 6 Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we will take action with others to store water or manage run-off in locations that provide overall flood risk reduction or environmental benefits This policy will tend to be applied where there may be opportunities in some locations to reduce flood risk locally or more widely in a catchment by storing water or managing run-off. The policy has been applied to an area (where the potential to apply the policy exists), but would only be implemented in specific locations within the area, after more detailed appraisal and consultation.

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 11 Sub-area 1

Upper and Middle Eden

Our key partners are: The vision and The key messages

Cumbria County Council preferred policy • On new developments, proactive measures to mitigate for climate Eden District Council Policy option 2: Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we can change such as improved Landowners generally reduce existing flood risk defences, flood resistance, management actions. resilience and improved site English Nature layout will be needed. Based on the flood risk in this area, we are unlikely to be able to justify • Encourage land management increasing our expenditure. We measures that make a positive The issues in this need to consider more efficient and contribution to reducing surface sub-area cost-effective ways of managing the run-off which may help to keep risk in this policy unit. We will water on the land for an This sub-area is characterised by review our System Asset increased period which may help scattered small settlements. Flood Management Plans (SAMPs) so that to reduce river flows. This could risk to property is low, with around we are able to maximise the provide benefits elsewhere in the 20 properties at risk. Climate benefits from the existing defences catchment and help to reduce change is estimated to have a small over their design life. In the long localised flooding. effect on the number of properties term, we may decide not to at risk. This part of the catchment • Changes in future management / maintain certain defences. These reacts rapidly to rainfall, with flood maintenance of flood risk plans need to consider how future events occurring soon after heavy management assets need to management of our defences can rain. However, these locations are consider the impact on the Eden contribute to an improvement in the in the upper catchment where SAC. condition of the Sites of Special opportunities to store or hold flood Scientific Interest (SSSI), where waters are limited. Storage of flood practical. waters would provide limited benefit to reducing flood risk across We will provide advice to the the catchment. community on managing the effects of flooding and support the local authority in the development of appropriate emergency response plans. As a means of making more efficient use of our resources, we will investigate if our flood warning service can be extended in this area. We will work with the planning authority and other land managers to encourage changes in land use to reduce surface water flows.

12 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Proposed actions to implement the preferred policy

The essential actions to achieve our policy aim are listed below:

• Investigate the feasibility of a flood warning service that could provide landowners with suitable advanced warning to enable the movement of livestock from areas at risk to higher ground. Maintain the flood warning area (FWA) at Bolton and review its coverage.

• Encourage take-up of environmental stewardship schemes through catchment sensitive farming officers, to help contribute to reducing flood risk.

• Maintenance work to rural watercourses and raised defences will be reduced through a process of SAMPs.

Kirkby Stephen (Frank’s Bridge)

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 13 Sub-area 2

Rural Lowther, Eamont and Eden Valley

Our key partners are: catchment demonstrates sensitivity the Lower Eden and channel to land-use change and we maintenance at Eamont Bridge, Cumbria County Council encourage the take-up of should continue to maintain the environmental stewardship current level of flood risk. Carlisle City Council schemes to contribute to flood risk Development pressure in this Eden District Council management. sub-area is considered to be low. However, Eamont Bridge is an Lake District National Park attractive and highly convenient Authority The vision and village close to Penrith. Northumberland National Park preferred policy Development needs to be strictly Authority managed to ensure that it does not Policy option 3: Areas of low to increase flood risk. Land managers moderate flood risk where we are generally managing existing flood United Utilities risk effectively. The key messages Developers The preferred policy option is to • Minimise risk at the most flood continue with existing actions, prone places by influencing however there are specific locations planning to ensure developments The issues in this where we need to review the current take account of the level of flood sub-area standard of protection offered by risk. our defences. There are • Encourage flood resistance and This is the largest of the sub-areas approximately 180 properties at risk resilience to properties at risk of and predominantly a rural of flooding during a 1% APE flooding. landscape, with a number of key (Warwick Bridge, Wetheral, Crosby smaller settlements at flood risk. on Eden, Brampton and Great • We will continue with existing The combined number of properties Corby) in the Eden Valley, and a and alternative flood risk at risk is less than 250. However, further 50 properties at Eamont measures accepting that in some given the nature of the flood risk Bridge on the River Eamont. Flood places risk may increase with (deep and fast flowing water and/or depths are predicted to increase by time. limited warning) the impact of the as much as half a metre and individual communities has been warning times may decrease. There considered in setting our policy. are a further 20 properties at risk of The Lowther sub-catchment lies in flooding in this sub-area as a the Lake District National Park and consequence of climate change. small pockets on the boundary of Our current flood risk management the catchment in the Eden Valley are activities, including maintenance of located within Northumberland raised defences for areas at risk in National Park. This part of the

14 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Proposed actions to implement the preferred policy

The essential actions to achieve our policy aim are listed below:

• Undertake a feasibility study to investigate the flood risk management opportunities at Low Crosby.

• Encourage the use of sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) in new development proposals to control run-off at source.

• Continue current asset management programme for the river channel at Eamont bridge. Continue with existing policy of no maintenance to the majority of the raised defences in the Lowther valley, accepting further deterioration from present condition of poor and very poor.

Eamont Bridge (above and left)

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 15 Sub-area 3

Eden Market Towns

Our key partners are: The vision and The key messages

Cumbria County Council preferred policy • Appleby and Penrith are the second and third highest flood Eden District Council Policy option 5: Areas of moderate to high flood risk where we can risk locations in terms of people Developers generally take further action to and property within the Eden reduce flood risk. Catchment.

Our vision for this sub-area is to • The Eden Strategic Flood Risk The issues in this undertake further appropriate Assessment (SFRA) identifies that sub-area actions that will reduce the high land currently being considered flood risk in both Penrith and for residential allocation in This sub-area comprises the two Appleby. We aim to ensure that the Penrith is located out of Cumbrian market towns of Penrith most vulnerable properties are recognised flood risk areas, and and Appleby. Both towns have high made flood resistant and resilient is classified as Zone 1 (Low significance to the local economy and encourage sustainable re- Probability). There are numerous and community as centres for development when opportunities small watercourses which have shopping, housing and arise. There is high demand for the potential to cause localised employment, and are also identified industrial and commercial land in flooding problems if appropriate as Key Service Centres under the Penrith, and large areas of the surface water management is not North West RSS. There are Gillwilly Industrial Estate are undertaken. approximately 320 properties in classed within Flood Zone 3 (High • All defences in Appleby and Penrith and 220 properties in Risk). Penrith is the principal town Penrith protect property Appleby at the 1% APE risk of in Eden District and therefore (residential or non-residential). flooding. A further 20 properties subject to the greatest development Failure of these defences would are at risk as a consequence of pressures. The RSS has set a target increase risk to life and damage climate change taking the total to of 170 new houses to be built to property. 560 by 2100. We maintain raised annually within Eden and it is defences and a pumping station in estimated that 75% of these will be • Flood risk to people in Penrith is Appleby. Parts of Appleby town in Penrith. Further improvements to high due to the rapid rise of flood centre are not protected by the the existing flood defences and water, depth and predicted existing defence and are at risk of beneficial land management change velocity. No flood warning frequent flooding. Surface water outside this sub-area would also service is provided for Penrith as also contributes to flood risk in help to reduce flood risk. There are a consequence of the short these towns. Four medical centres, storage opportunities upstream on response time. A flood warning two electricity sub-stations and one Thacka Beck that may help to service is provided in Appleby, waste water treatment works are at reduce flooding in Penrith. with 223 properties registered. risk within this sub-area. To achieve this, our preferred approach is policy option 5.

16 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Proposed actions to implement the preferred policy

The essential actions to achieve our policy aim are listed below:

• A major capital scheme for Thacka Beck, Penrith is at an advanced stage. The project appraisal report has been accepted and detailed design has begun for the upstream storage and culvert repair option.

• Influence the planning system to ensure that inappropriate development is guided away from flood risk areas and, where development is permitted, the risks are adequately mitigated.

• Residents and businesses are encouraged to take positive steps to reduce the consequences of flooding by improving flood resilience. Residents and businesses in Appleby to take appropriate self-help measures to reduce the damage caused by flood events, taking advantage of the Defra pilot flood resilience grants.

• Further study to be undertaken to investigate viability of providing flood warnings to Penrith despite the very short lead-time.

Appleby

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 17 Sub-area 4

Carlisle

Our key partners are: The vision and The key messages

Cumbria County Council preferred policy • Where development must take place in areas of flood risk, flood Carlisle City Council Policy option 5: Areas of moderate to high flood risk where we can resilience is incorporated into United Utilities generally take further action to buildings. reduce flood risk. Developers • The Eden and Petteril Scheme Management of flood risk is to be was completed in May 2008 and maintained as a key factor in the designed to give protection Carlisle Renaissance Masterplan to against a 0.5% APE. There are The issues in this ensure that development takes existing flood defences along the sub-area account of flooding issues. River Caldew, constructed Development in areas at risk of following flooding in 1963 and Carlisle is the county capital of flooding (brownfield and 1984. The Caldew and Carlisle Cumbria and a major centre for undeveloped) will only be permitted City Centre Scheme commenced employment, housing and the local where a flood risk assessment has in May 2008 and should be and regional economy. In Carlisle, been submitted, with planning completed in 2010, and aims to the January 2005 event affected applications in line with appropriate increase the SoP of these 1,800 properties and resulted in the policies within the Carlisle City defences. evacuation of 3,000 people. In Council development plan and parts of Carlisle flood risk is high, PPS25. Further improvements to with 6,500 people considered at the existing flood defences risk on the Eden given a 1% APE. throughout the city are required to Depths of flooding up to 3.5m, with reduce flood risk. Carlisle accounts velocities of 0.5 to 2.9 m/s are for 60% of total potential damages predicted. Flooding from surface within this catchment. This is water and sewers contributes to estimated to rise with climate overall flood risk. Without change. intervention, 6,750 properties could be at risk as a consequence of climate change. The provision of a greater security from flooding and a higher standard of protection in key locations are essential to the regeneration of Carlisle. Two medical centres, eight electricity sub-stations, one school and one waste water treatment works are at risk within this sub-area.

18 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Proposed actions to implement the preferred policy

The essential actions to achieve our policy aim are listed below:

• Continue the prioritised programme of works to improve the SOP through Carlisle by completing the Carlisle City and Caldew Scheme.

• SUDS to be encouraged as a means of reducing overall flood risk and controlling pollution from urban run-off. We need to work with United Utilities and Carlisle City Council to identify areas at risk of flooding from complex sources (eg, sewer and surface water).

• Jointly investigate and resolve complex flooding from different sources through combined improvement projects.

• Maintain and review the flood warning service to the 4500 properties that are included in the various flood warning areas throughout Carlisle.

Old Eden

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 19 Sub-area 5

Burgh-by-Sands

Our key partners are: concerns raised by the farming understanding of this policy and its industry over the impact on the implications. Cumbria County Council viability of land holdings. Allerdale Borough Council The key messages Carlisle City Council The vision and • Continue to adopt a risk-based Land Managers preferred policy approach to flood risk Policy option 2: Areas of low to management. moderate flood risk where we can • Engagement with stakeholders. The issues in this generally reduce existing flood risk sub-area management actions. The historic practice of maintaining Proposed actions to This coastal policy unit is the agricultural drainage systems in downstream of Carlisle. Several implement the preferred this Policy Unit is no longer small rural settlements are located policy sustainable. It is proposed to within this policy unit, the largest of reduce our current level of The essential actions to achieve our which is Burgh-by-Sands. Flood risk management and encourage a more policy aim are listed below: within this policy unit is small in natural drainage system, targeting comparison to risk elsewhere within • Review the SAMPs to ensure that our asset management activities on the catchment. There are around 50 the maintenance programme is areas where flooding poses a properties at risk from tidal risk-based. As the flood risk greater risk to people and property. flooding, there are no properties at increases due to climate change, Our preferred approach is policy risk from river flooding. Levels of the SAMP should identify option 2. To achieve this, we must maintenance of land drainage opportunities to sustain the engage key stakeholders to systems in this sub-area have been current level of flood risk. encourage awareness and reduced over recent years, with

Embankments

20 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Sub-area 6

Rural Caldew and Petteril

Our key partners are: Our current flood risk management catchment and help to reduce activities are limited. We maintain localised flooding. Cumbria County Council areas of raised defences that protect small rural communities. Allerdale Borough Council Our works in this sub-area Proposed actions to Carlisle City Council concentrate on channel implement the preferred maintenance and the removal of Eden District Council obstructions. Large scale storage policy Lake District National Park within this Policy Unit has shown The essential actions to achieve our Authority not to be economically viable as policy aim are listed below: part of the Carlisle and City / Caldew Landowners Scheme. Modelling has shown that • Encourage take-up of attenuation has some benefit. environmental stewardship schemes through catchment sensitive farming officers to The issues in this The key messages contribute to reducing flood risk. sub-area • Large-scale storage is not • Continue with existing policy of This sub-area covers the upper and considered to be viable in this no maintenance of the raised middle sections of the Caldew and sub-area. rural defences in the Caldew Petteril sub-catchments. There are Valley accepting further no flood warning areas but a flood • Land management in this sub- deterioration from present watch is issued by the Environment area to reduce surface run-off condition of poor and very poor. Agency for the Caldew/Petteril and, help to keep water on the • Continue to maintain the catchments. Flood risk to people land for an increased period in a standard of protection of the and property is low. Approximately managed fashion, may help to isolated raised defences that 50 properties are at risk in a 1% APE reduce river flows. This could protect the small communities at from the main rivers but a number of provide benefits elsewhere in the Plumpton and Newton Reigney. properties are considered to be at risk on the River Roe at Stockdalewath and at Roe Beck at Thistlewood (29 properties flooded in these areas in January 2005).

The vision and preferred policy

Policy option 6: Areas of low to moderate flood risk where we will take action with others to store water or manage run-off in locations that provide overall flood risk reduction or environmental benefits. Highbridge

Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 21 Map of CFMP policies

Map 4 Summary of Policies

22 Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan Environment Agency Eden Catchment Flood Management Plan 23 Would you like to find out more about us, or about your environment?

Then call us on 08708 506 506* (Mon-Fri 8-6) email [email protected] or visit our website www.environment-agency.gov.uk incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 (24hrs) floodline 0845 988 1188

* Approximate call costs: 8p plus 6p per minute (standard landline). Please note charges will vary across telephone providers.

Environment first: Viewing this on-screen? Please consider the environment and only print if absolutely necessary.

If you're reading a paper copy, please don't forget to reuse and recycle.

GENW0309BPJG-E-E