Laurencekirk (Potentially Vulnerable Area 07/01)

Local Plan District Local authority Main catchment Tay Estuary and Montrose Aberdeenshire Council River North Esk (Tayside) Basin

Summary of flooding impacts Summary of flooding impacts At risk of flooding

• 20 residential properties

• <10 non-residential properties • £110,000 Annual Average Damages

(damages by flood source

shown left)

Summary of objectives to manage flooding

Objectives have been set by SEPA and agreed with flood risk management authorities. These are the aims for managing local flood risk. The objectives have been grouped in three main ways: by reducing risk, avoiding increasing risk or accepting risk by maintaining current levels of management. Objectives

Many organisations, such as Scottish Water and energy companies, actively maintain

and manage their own assets including their risk from flooding. Where known, these

actions are described here. Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland work with site owners to manage flooding where appropriate at designated environmental and/or cultural heritage sites. These actions are not detailed further in the Flood Risk Management Strategies.

Summary of actions to manage flooding The actions below have been selected to manage flood risk.

Flood Natural flood New flood Community Property level Site protection protection management warning flood action protection plans scheme/works works groups scheme Actions

Flood Natural flood Maintain flood Awareness Surface water Emergency protection management warning raising plan/study plans/response study study

Maintain flood Strategic Flood Planning Self help Maintenance protection mapping and forecasting policies scheme modelling

21 Section 2 Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District Laurencekirk (Potentially Vulnerable Area 07/01)

Local Plan District Local authority Main catchment Tay Estuary and Montrose River North Esk Aberdeenshire Council Basin (Tayside)

Background

This Potentially Vulnerable Area is 40km2 There are approximately 20 residential (shown below). It is situated in the north properties at risk of flooding. The east of the River North Esk catchment Annual Average Damages are and includes Laurencekirk and approximately £110,000. Auchenblae. The main source of flooding is the Luther Water.

River 98%

Surface water 2%

Figure 1: Annual Average Damages by flood source

Summary of flooding impacts

Work carried out since the National Flood Risk Assessment in 2011 has concluded that the risk of flooding in this Potentially Vulnerable Area is now relatively low. The designation of this Potentially Vulnerable Area will be reviewed in the next flood risk management planning cycle.

The main risk of flooding in this area is to Auchenblae from the Luther Water. The risk of flooding to people and property, as well as to community facilities, utilities, the transport network, designated sites and agricultural land is summarised in Table 1.

The damages associated with floods of different likelihood are shown in Figure 2. For this Potentially Vulnerable Area the highest damages are to residential properties followed by damages to agricultural land. The Dundee to Aberdeen railway line is also notably impacted. The location of the impacts of flooding is shown in Figure 3.

The figures presented for Annual Average Damages include damages to residential properties, non-residential properties, transport and agriculture.

Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District Section 2 22 It has been confirmed with Aberdeenshire Council that a small number of non- residential properties identified as being at flood risk in this area are no longer functioning as commercial properties.

1 in 10 1 in 200 1 in 1000 High likelihood Medium likelihood Low likelihood Residential properties 10 20 20 (total 1,000) Non- residential <10 <10 <10 properties (total 180) People 30 40 40 Community 0 0 0 facilities Utilities assets 0 0 0

1 B road at 1 location 1 B road at 1 location 1 B road at 1 location Transport

links 1 Railway route at 1 Railway route at 1 Railway route at (excluding 7 locations: 7 locations: 7 locations: minor roads) Dundee to Aberdeen Dundee to Aberdeen Dundee to Aberdeen Environmental designated 0 0 0 areas (km2) Designated cultural 0 0 1 heritage sites Agricultural 2 1.3 1.7 1.8 land (km )

Table 1: Summary of flooding impacts

£1,600,000

£1,400,000

£1,200,000 Agriculture £1,000,000 Vehicles £800,000 Roads Damages Damages £600,000 Non-residential £400,000 Residential

£200,000

£0 1 in 10 1 in 50 1 in 100 1 in 200 1 in 1000

Figure 2: Damages by flood likelihood

23 Section 2 Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District

Figure 3: Impacts of flooding

History of flooding

No significant river, coastal or surface water floods have been recorded in this Potentially Vulnerable Area.

Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District Section 2 24 Objectives to manage flooding in Potentially Vulnerable Area 07/01

Objectives provide a common goal and shared ambition for managing floods. These objectives have been set by SEPA and agreed with flood risk management authorities following consultation. They were identified through an assessment of the underlying evidence of the causes and impacts of flooding. Target areas have been set to focus actions; they do not necessarily correspond to areas at risk in SEPA’s flood map. The objectives below have been set for Laurencekirk Potentially Vulnerable Area.

Target area Objective ID Indicators within PVA Applies across Avoid an overall increase in flood risk 7001 • 20 residential Tay Estuary and properties Montrose Basin • £110,000 Annual Local Plan Average Damages District Applies across Reduce overall flood risk 7054 • 20 residential Tay Estuary and properties Montrose Basin • £110,000 Annual Local Plan Average Damages District Applies across Organisations such as Scottish Water, Tay Estuary and energy companies and Historic Montrose Basin Environment Scotland actively maintain Local Plan and manage their own assets, including District the risk of flooding. These actions are not detailed further in the Flood Risk Management Strategies.

25 Section 2 Tay Estuary and Montrose Basin Local Plan District Actions to manage flooding in Potentially Vulnerable Area 07/01

Actions describe where and how flood risk will be managed. These actions have been set by SEPA and agreed with flood risk management authorities following consultation. Selection of actions to deliver the agreed objectives was based on a detailed assessment and comparison of economic, social and environmental criteria. The actions shaded and then described below have been selected as the most appropriate for Laurencekirk Potentially Vulnerable Area.

Selected actions

Flood Natural flood New flood Community Property level Site protection protection management warning flood action protection plans scheme/works works groups scheme

Flood Natural flood Maintain flood Awareness Surface water Emergency protection management warning raising plan/study plans/response study study

Maintain flood Strategic Flood Planning Self help Maintenance protection mapping and forecasting policies scheme modelling

Action (ID): STRATEGIC MAPPING AND MODELLING (70540019)

Objective (ID): Reduce overall flood risk (7054)

Delivery lead: Scottish Water

Status: Not started Indicative delivery: 2016-2021

Description: Scottish Water will carry out an assessment of flood risk within the highest risk sewer catchments to improve knowledge and understanding of surface water flood risk.

Action (ID): FLOOD FORECASTING (70540009)

Objective (ID): Reduce overall flood risk (7054)

Delivery lead: SEPA