December 2012 County Council Managing flood risk

Introduction Floods can happen anywhere at anytime and can be caused by rising ground water levels, burst “...the role of local water pipes, run-off from sudden rainfall as well authorities should be as flooding from rivers and the sea. enhanced so that they take on responsibility for In 2007, exceptional flooding across saw 55,000 properties flooded and around 7,000 people rescued from the flood waters by leading the co-ordination the emergency services. of flood risk management in their areas.” 5,000 properties were damaged in the extreme weather events in Sir Michael Pitt the summer and autumn of 2012; more than half were hit not by overflowing rivers but by surface water.

Locally, in 2006 a torrential thunderstorm flooded over 50 properties including six schools in Great Yarmouth, more properties and businesses were flooded from Hemsby to Hopton on Sea and serious disruption was caused to a much wider area. The impact of the flood and the disruption of traffic was exacerbated by the failure of a pumping station and the early closure of many schools.

Sir Michael Pitt’s review of the flooding in 2007 stated that “the role of local authorities should be enhanced so that they take on responsibility for leading the co- ordination of flood risk management in their areas”. The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 provides for this through the new role of the Lead Local Flood Authority, which has been conferred on Norfolk County Council.

Pictured above Great Yarmouth, 2006 1 Understanding local flood risk Based on national surface water modelling approximately 37,000 properties in Norfolk are What is flooding? estimated to be at risk from flooding during a Quite simply a flood is rainfall event with a 1 in 200 annual chance of any case where land occurring. Through this process, Norfolk was not normally covered recognised as the 10th most at risk area out of by water becomes 152 Authorities in England. covered by water. The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) process provides a consistent high level overview of the potential risk of flooding from local sources such as surface water and ordinary watercourses.

Norfolk County Council completed its PFRA PFRA Priority Areas report in 2011. This informs our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy by identifying areas potentially Ranking Settlement at flood risk and that require more detailed studies Norwich including such as through Surface Water Management Plans. 1 Drayton, Taverham and Cringleford

Gt. Yarmouth including Gorleston and Bradwell 2 King’s Lynn including North and South Wootton Dereham Thetford Cromer 3 North Walsham Sheringham Wymondham

Pictured left , 2011 2 New responsibilities for Norfolk County Council The Government’s response to the Pitt Review was to put in place a new piece of legislation called the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. This Act places new powers, duties and responsibilities on Norfolk County Council to fulfil its role as Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA).

Norfolk County Council is now required to: ● Develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in Norfolk. ● Investigate all significant flooding incidents; significant flooding will usually refer to the flooding of internal properties, important buildings or structures and main routes i.e. those used by emergency vehicles. ● Maintain an asset register of structures and features that affect flood risk. ● Issue consents on works that affect the flows of ordinary watercourses.

To assist the County Council in controlling certain activities that might have an adverse effect on flooding we also have new permissive powers which include being able to: Where we are now: ● Undertake flood risk management work where it relates to Norfolk County Council has ground water or surface water runoff. a small team dedicated to ● Enforce against obstructions, un-consented works and the lack investigating flooding incidents, of maintenance of ordinary watercourses. developing the asset register ● Designate a structure or feature which affects an area of local and dealing with issues relating flood risk. to ordinary watercourses.

3 Working in partnership What are the dangers The Norfolk Water Management Partnership from flooding? (NWMP) was established in 2009 primarily The dangers associated with flooding are often greater than in response to the then Flood and Water people expect. The deeper Management Bill. flood water gets the more hazardous it becomes, but The NWMP meets four times a year. It is led by officers from high speed flows can make it Norfolk County Council and all Risk Management Authorities impossible to walk through (RMAs) in the County are represented. even relatively shallow water. Any hazard below the water The NWMP is the forum through which Local Flood Risk is likely to be hidden, as flood Management is co-ordinated across Norfolk. water is usually cloudy. Small injuries or falls could expose The County Council is now aiming to co-ordinate a strategic forum flood victims to contaminated of the NWMP which would involve members from RMAs and the flood water. Regional Flood and Coastal Committee chairs.

Risk Management Authorities in Norfolk...

• Anglian Water Services • Broads (2006) IDB • Essex and Suffolk Water • Burnt Fen IDB • Churchfield & Plawfield IDB • Environment Agency • Downham & IDB • Highways Agency • East Harling IDB • East of Ouse, Polver and Nar IDB • Borough Council of • Euximoor IDB King’s Lynn and West Norfolk • Hundred Foot Washes IDB • Council • Hundred of Wisbech IDB • District Council • King’s Lynn IDB • Great Yarmouth Borough Council • Littleport & Downham IDB • Norfolk County Council as LLFA • Manea & DDC • Norfolk County Council as the • Needham & Ladus IDB Highways Authority • IDB • Norwich City Council • Norfolk Rivers IDB • District Council • IDB • District Council • & District IDB • IDB • Stringside IDB • IDB • Waveney, Lower Yare and Lothingland IDB

4 Surface Water Management Plans Pictured above Potential future flood image using flood Surface Water Management Plans (SWMPs) take visualisation software a comprehensive look at the causes of surface water flooding and its consequences, using historical flood records and detailed models of potential future floods.

It brings together all the relevant Where we are now: organisations to steer the project and liaises regularly with local stakeholders The Norwich Urban Area Surface Water Management Plan was and councillors. approved by Cabinet on the 14th of May 2012 and actions from the plan are being implemented. The evidence from this SWMP The main outputs are detailed is assisting Anglian Water’s Long Term Sewerage Strategy. mapping of areas prone to surface The King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Surface Water Management water flood risk and a co-ordinated Plan was completed in April 2012. This report highlighted Action Plan to prioritise projects to further areas of study to understand the potential combined risk reduce surface water flood risk. from surface run-off and large ordinary watercourses. When this further study is complete we will seek political approval for the The evidence from the SWMPs also SWMP. helps inform and develop the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. Great Yarmouth Borough Surface Water Management Plan is currently in development and is expected to be finalised in April 2013.

Early work has started on gathering data for a SWMP in the North Norfolk district.

5 Developing a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires the Lead Local Flood Authority to develop a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) in its area.

Key requirements of the strategy are to: ● Assess local flood risk across Norfolk. ● Set objectives for managing local flood risk. ● Propose measures to achieve those objectives. ● Detail how and when the measures are expected to be Where we are now: implemented including their costs, Officers are currently drafting the strategy. This work is being benefits and sources of funding. informed by a review of evidence of flood risks across Norfolk. ● Identify the role and functions of This work has identified many gaps in the understanding of Risk Management Authorities in local flood risk. As such several projects to determine local Norfolk. flood risk have been undertaken through the development of ● Identify how the strategy Surface Water Management Plans (SWMPs) for Norwich and contributes to wider the boroughs of King’s Lynn and Gt Yarmouth. environmental objectives. Development of the strategy will also be informed by the production of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and Habitats Regulation Assessment. Based upon the above evidence coordinated approaches to addressing drainage and flood risk issues are being developed and these will be transposed into policies within the LFRMS. As elements of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 are still not in place the strategy will need to reflect future changes in legislation. These changes may occur prior to the adoption of the strategy or may form part of an early review.

6 Sustainable drainage for new developments Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 Government is proposing to make all Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) Sustainable Drainage Systems Approving Bodies (SAB). This status requires Norfolk County Council to deliver new statutory duties for the approval, adoption and maintenance of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) on new development.

SuDS are a more natural approach to managing the rainfall and surface water drainage for a development. SuDS are designed to mimic or improve the drainage of a natural undeveloped catchment.

SuDS provide multiple benefits including: ● Reducing the flood risk. ● Replenishing the groundwater. ● Enhancing wildlife habitats. Where we are now: ● Encouraging recreation and education. Norfolk County Council is ● SuDS can comprise a variety of components all of which reduce currently awaiting confirmation the impact of water flow on existing watercourses and sewer from Government of the networks. implementation timeline for The new SuDS duties represent a significant change in the design these significant new duties. We and delivery of drainage for new developments. Currently some are however currently engaging aspects of this process are managed through the District and County with both developers and those planning processes in conjunction with organisations such as the organisations impacted on by Environment Agency and water companies. Once in place SuDS these proposed changes. As duties will become the responsibility of Norfolk County Council and part of this engagement the are independent of the planning process. These SuDS functions also County Council is eager to have separate enforcement powers and appeals processes. ensure that new SuDS duties are dovetailed with the planning SuDS duties are an important consideration for developers who process. This aim is intended to will have a number of new technical requirements to meet as well help streamline the experience as new routes for the approval and adoption of their schemes. It is for the public alongside making worth noting that whilst developers can gain planning permission Norfolk’s new development prior to gaining SuDS approval, construction work cannot begin on resilient to flood risk. site until the drainage scheme is approved by the SAB.

7 What happens next Proposed Local Flood Risk Management Strategy timeline...

January 2013 Draft Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulation Assessment January 2013 Draft strategy presented to ® Norfolk County Council Cabinet April 2013 – July 2013 Risk Management Authority Consultation

May 2013 – July 2013 Public Consultation If you need this October 2013 Amend Strategic Environmental information in large Assessment and Habitats print, audio, Braille, Regulation Assessment alternative format or October 2013 Produce Equality Impact Assessment in a different language please contact us on December 2013 Revised Draft strategy presented to 01603 638081 and we Norfolk County Council Cabinet will do our best to help. February 2014 Final strategy report adopted by full Council Sources of local flood risk

Surface run-off: Flooding from surface run-off is derived from excess rainfall which is either not able to For more information... infiltrate the ground, or which exceeds the capacity of piped drainage systems. Email: [email protected] Flooding from ordinary watercourses: This type of flooding generally occurs when a watercourse cannot Call: 0344 800 8020 accommodate the volume of water that is flowing into it.

Or visit our web pages: Groundwater flooding: Water seeps below ground and www.norfolk.gov.uk/watermanagement collects within spaces in the rock and soil strata establishing a level that is known as the ‘water table’. The water table can rise when water enters the catchment faster than it can drain away through any fissures or to watercourses.

Precipitation influenced sewer flooding: This type of flooding is often experienced during times of heavy rainfall when large amounts of surface water overwhelm the sewer network.

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