If your site falls in a flood zone or your council has asked for a flood risk assessment (FRA), choosing the right person to prepare it matters. A weak FRA invites objections from the Environment Agency and delays your application. This guide explains what a good flood risk assessment consultant in the UK should offer, the questions to ask, and how to choose in 2026.
What does a flood risk consultant do?
A flood risk consultant assesses all sources of flooding affecting your site — rivers, sea, surface water, groundwater and drainage — and shows how your development stays safe and does not increase flood risk elsewhere. For most planning applications the FRA also sets out a drainage strategy using sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). If you are new to this, start with what is a flood risk assessment.
What to look for in a top FRA consultant
- The correct policy framework. In England the FRA must follow the National Planning Policy Framework and the Environment Agency’s FRA template (updated March 2025). Flood policy differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so make sure the consultant works to the right regime for your site.
- Use of live, official data. A credible FRA is built on current Environment Agency flood-map data, including the surface-water and climate-change datasets added in 2026 — not out-of-date figures.
- A proper SuDS drainage strategy. Look for drainage designed to CIRIA C753 and the non-statutory technical standards, controlling runoff to greenfield or agreed rates.
- The right scope for your project. A householder extension needs a proportionate assessment; a new dwelling near a watercourse needs more. See our guide to sites near rivers and watercourses.
- Local catchment knowledge. Flood risk is location-specific. A consultant who understands your local authority’s concerns and the behaviour of your catchment produces a smoother application.
- Speed and clarity. Ask how quickly you will get the report and whether the findings are explained plainly for the planning officer.
For large, complex or contested schemes — major developments, sites in Flood Zone 3, or applications likely to be scrutinised by the Environment Agency — you may also want a chartered specialist (for example a member of CIWEM) who can negotiate directly with the EA. Matching the consultant to the complexity of your site avoids both under-cooking and over-paying.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Will the FRA follow the current Environment Agency template and NPPF policy?
- Does it use live EA flood-map data, including the 2026 surface-water update?
- Will you provide a SuDS drainage strategy to CIRIA C753?
- Is the scope right for my type of application, and what is the turnaround?
- Have you dealt with my local authority or catchment before?
Red flags in an FRA quote
Watch for warning signs. An FRA that relies on out-of-date flood-map data — ignoring the 2026 surface-water and climate-change datasets — can be rejected outright. So can one that omits a drainage strategy where surface water needs managing, or that applies the wrong nation’s policy to your site. Be cautious of a consultant who cannot explain how climate change allowances have been applied, or who treats a site near a watercourse as a simple desk exercise when a Flood Risk Activity Permit or land drainage consent may be needed. And no credible consultant will promise the Environment Agency will not object — they can only make your case as robust as possible. If a quote seems unusually cheap, check what has actually been scoped: a screening note is not the same as a full site-specific FRA with SuDS.
How Fortress Associates can help
Fortress Associates produces automated, site-specific flood risk assessments for planning applications in England, built on live Environment Agency data, following the March 2025 EA template, and including a SuDS drainage strategy to CIRIA C753. The report is free and ready in minutes, which makes it ideal for householder extensions, new dwellings and small-scale applications — you can see straight away whether your site triggers the Sequential Test or a full assessment. Explore our services or contact us. Not sure of your zone? Read Flood Zones 1, 2 and 3 explained.
Sources & further reading
Need help with a UK planning project?
Fixed-fee daylight & sunlight reports and Building Regulations drawings — delivered in 4–5 working days, no advance payment — plus flood risk assessments, air quality assessments, energy statements and sustainability statements for planning applications across the UK.
Request a free quote