Flood Risk Assessments for planning.

Site-specific flood risk assessments for planning applications in England, built on live Environment Agency data — with a full SuDS drainage strategy, Sequential and Exception Test support, and the floor levels and resilience measures the EA expects.

★ 5.0 Google rated England · live EA data No advance payment

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Illustrative flood risk assessment: house with modelled flood levels, finished floor level and mitigation measures

EA Template (March 2025)Live Environment Agency data

Zones · SuDS · Sequential Test

Submission-ready PDF

What a flood risk assessment shows

Flood zones, modelled flood levels, finished floor levels and the mitigation and drainage measures the Environment Agency expects.

NPPF & PPG Flood Risk

The flood risk rules your application is judged against.

Flood risk sits in national policy: the NPPF directs development away from flood risk through the sequential test, and the planning practice guidance sets out when a site-specific assessment is mandatory.

When an FRA is required

The national triggers are precise — your application needs a flood risk assessment where any of these apply:

Flood Zone 2 or 3 — any development, whatever its size
Flood Zone 1 over 1 hectare — surface water and drainage must be addressed
Within 20 m of a main river — works may also need an environmental permit
Drainage history — sites on critical drainage areas or mapped flow paths
Vulnerable change of use — for example commercial to residential

What your FRA must demonstrate

A proportionate, site-specific assessment covering:

Flood zone screening — rivers, sea and surface water at your site
Sequential & Exception Test support — where policy requires it
Finished floor levels — set against EA standing advice with resilience measures
SuDS drainage strategy — to CIRIA C753 and the non-statutory standards
Submission-ready PDF — with a unique document reference

What you get

A submission-ready flood risk assessment.

Prepared for your exact site to the Environment Agency's current template, with the drainage strategy included.

EA flood zone screening (Zones 1, 2 and 3) and surface water risk
Sequential Test and Exception Test support
SuDS drainage strategy to CIRIA C753 and the Non-Statutory Technical Standards
Climate change allowances, finished floor levels and resilience measures
Follows the Environment Agency FRA template (March 2025)
Submission-ready PDF report with a unique document reference

How it works

From drawings to submission.

Send us your drawings

Email your existing and proposed drawings and site address to info@clockfortress.com.

Get a fixed quote

We come back within 24 hours with a fixed price and a delivery date. There's no advance payment.

We prepare your report

Built on live Environment Agency data with the SuDS drainage strategy included — typically 3–5 working days.

Submit with confidence

Receive a planning-ready PDF, backed by our amend-or-refund guarantee if the authority rejects it.

Standards

Built on the standards councils check for.

Every flood risk assessment follows the current national framework and Environment Agency requirements.

NPPF Planning Practice Guidance — Flood Risk EA FRA Template (March 2025) EA Standing Advice CIRIA C753 SuDS Manual Non-Statutory SuDS Standards

FAQ

Flood risk assessments — explained.

Quick answers to the questions applicants ask us most.

Ask anything

Do I need a flood risk assessment?

Yes if your site is in Flood Zone 2 or 3 (any size), in Flood Zone 1 over 1 hectare, within 20 m of a main river, on land with known drainage problems, or changing to a more vulnerable use. Our free flood zone checker on the tools page answers it in seconds.

What data is the assessment built on?

Live Environment Agency datasets at the time the report is prepared — flood zones, surface water mapping and standing advice — following the EA’s March 2025 FRA template.

What is the sequential test?

National policy requires councils to steer development to the lowest-risk land reasonably available. In Flood Zones 2 and 3 your application must show that test has been considered — the FRA provides the evidence.

Is a drainage strategy included?

Yes — a SuDS drainage strategy to CIRIA C753 and the non-statutory technical standards, covering runoff, attenuation and discharge in the order the hierarchy requires.

Which areas do you cover?

The flood risk assessment service covers England — flood policy differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Google Reviews

Rated 5.0 by our clients.

5.0★★★★★Based on 500+ Google reviews across our services

Raj Malhotra

a month ago

★★★★★

The council made a flood risk assessment a condition of approval. Fortress turned it round with the SuDS drainage strategy included, and the condition was discharged first time.

Eleanor Brooks

3 weeks ago

★★★★★

Our site was in Flood Zone 3 and we thought it was hopeless. The Sequential and Exception Test support got us through planning. Clear and professional.

Katie Simmonds

2 months ago

★★★★★

As a planning consultant I use them across flood risk, air quality and daylight. The reports read like the big-name consultancies' work at a fraction of the fee.

Douglas Fraser

3 months ago

★★★★★

Surface water was the sticking point on our extension. The drainage strategy satisfied the lead local flood authority and we got permission. Great value.

Flood Risk Assessments for planning.

What a flood risk assessment shows

The flood risk rules your application is judged against.

When an FRA is required

What your FRA must demonstrate

A submission-ready flood risk assessment.

From drawings to submission.

Send us your drawings

Get a fixed quote

We prepare your report

Submit with confidence

Built on the standards councils check for.

Flood risk assessments — explained.

Rated 5.0 by our clients.

Get your flood risk assessment quoted.