Find out how the Flood Risk Regulations are being implemented, the roles and responsibilities of lead local flood authorities and ourselves, and the assessments, maps and plans being produced.
The Flood Risk Regulations (the Regulations) implement the requirements of the European Floods Directive (PDF, 73KB) which aims to provide a consistent approach to managing flood risk across Europe. The approach is based on a 6 year cycle of planning which includes the publication of:
- Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments (PFRAs) by 22 December 2011
- Hazard and risk maps by 22 December 2013
- Flood risk management plans by 22 December 2015
Roles and responsibilities
Responsibilities under the Flood Risk Regulations are consistent with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. We are responsible for managing flood risk from main rivers, the sea and reservoirs. Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) are responsible for local sources of flood risk, in particular surface runoff, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. We also have a duty under the Flood Risk Regulations to review, collate and publish the reports, maps and plans produced (by us and LLFAs).
River Basin Districts
Under the requirements of the Floods Directive, reporting is at the River Basin District level. There are 11 river basin districts that are partly or fully in England and Wales. These River Basin Districts are the same as those used by the Water Framework Directive for the river basin planning process.
Coordinating delivery of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive
The Floods Directive is a sister directive to the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Both directives use the same unit of management (river basin districts) and are based on the same 6 year cycle of planning. There is a requirement to coordinate delivery of the two directives.
We are the competent authority for the WFD and responsible for implementing the WFD in England and Wales. We will set out how we plan to coordinate delivery in the WFD 'Working Together' consultation document which is due to be published in June 2012. This document is a requirement of WFD and is the first of three statutory consultations we will run from 2012-2015 to help us prepare the River Basin Management Plans for 2015.
Timetable for publication of main statutory products for cycle 2 of river basin management planning
- June 2012 - Working together consultation.
- June 2013 - Significant water management issues consultation and river basin characterisation, including risk assessments.
- June 2014 - Draft River Basin Management Plans.
- June 2015 - 2nd River Basin Management Plans.
- Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments (PFRAs)
Find out why PFRAs are being produced and view the PFRA where you live.
- Hazard and risk maps
Under the Flood Risk Regulations hazard and risk maps must be produced and published by December 2013. Find out what we are doing to prepare for this.
- Flood risk management plans
Under the Flood Risk Regulations flood risk management plans must be produced and published by December 2015. Find out what we are doing to prepare for this.
