Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA)

The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) has been prepared to assist Torbay Council meet their duties to manage local flood risk and deliver the requirements of the Flood Risk Regulations 2009. The PFRA provides a high level overview of flood risk from local sources, including surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses.

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment
Torbay Council Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report

PFRA Review 2017

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Review
Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Review report - January 2017
Preliminary Flood Risk Assessments Annexes
Three annexes detailing past and future floods and their consequences and records of flood risks and their rationale.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)

The Level 1 and Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRA) provide reference and policy documents identifying the flood risk areas within Torbay and are used to inform the Local Development Framework. The Level 1 SFRA provides a series of maps to indicate areas where there is a risk of flooding and where proposed development should be avoided because of the flood risk. The Level 2 SFRA provides supplementary information to inform on specific flood risk issues. The Level 2 mapping compliments those produced within the Level 1 report to provide a complete suite of flood mapping from all sources, based on available data.

Within the SFRA documents various strategies and policy recommendations are identified for managing flood risk and by complying with these, together with Planning Policy Statement 25 – Development and Flood Risk (PPS25), new development is targeted to areas of Torbay that are less vulnerable to flooding. In addition compliance with the strategies and policies will reduce the risk of flooding to other areas of Torbay. The Level 1 and Level 2 report should be used in conjunction with each other to assist forward strategic planning and to inform ongoing development control decisions.

Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2008)
An overview of flood risk within a specific area. It aims to provide general guidance to planning officers, developers and other interested people about areas where flood risk is an issue.
Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2010)
This builds on the information within the Level 1 SFRA and undertakes an appraisal of the probability and consequences of overtopping or failure of flood risk management infrastructure within the major flood risk areas.

Flood Risk Strategy

The Torbay Local Flood Risk Management Strategy was adopted by the Council on 18th February 2015. Torbay Council together with partner authorities have produced the strategy which outlines the responsibilities of the Risk Management Authorities in Torbay and how they are working in partnership to coordinate local flood risk management. This covers everything from engaging with communities and preparing for floods, responding to flood events, collaborating on flood risk studies and investing in flood improvements.

As Lead Local Flood Authority for the area, Torbay Council has produced the strategy to outline the plans and procedures in place to help inform Torbay residents who is responsible, what actions can be taken and how these can be achieved.

The Strategy has been produced in line with the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Torbay Council Local Flood Risk Managment Strategy
Local Flood Risk Management Strategy - Summary Report
Torbay Council Draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy - Summary Report
Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment
Torbay Council Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Report
Torbay Council Flood Risk Management Strategy
Annual Action Plan 2016-17
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Design Guide
A guide to assist developers and other individuals in designing drainage systems incorporating SuDS features and provide information to aid approval of these features within Torbay.

Flooding Investigations

Under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 the following investigation reports have been produced:

Flood Investigation Report - August 2020
Torbay Council section 19 Flood Investigation Report
Flood Investigation Report Storm Emma - March 2018
Torbay Council Section 19 Flood Investigation Report
Flood Investigation Report - November 2012
Torbay Council Section 19 Flood Investigation Report
Flood Investigation Report - October 2012
Torbay Council Section 19 Flood Investigation Report

Legislation

Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks entered into force on 26th November 2007. This Directive requires Member States to assess if all watercourses and coast lines are at risk from flooding, to map the flood extent and assets and humans at risk in these areas and to take adequate and coordinated measures to reduce this flood risk.  This Directive was made into English law by the Flood Risk Regulations 2009.

The Flood Risk Regulations 2009 implement the European Floods Directive 2007. This provides a consistent approach to managing flood risk across Europe, through a six year planning cycle based on a four stage process of: undertaking a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA), identifying Flood Risk Areas, preparing flood hazard and risk maps and preparing flood risk management plans.  These regulations which came into force on 10 December 2009 and are complimentary to the Floods and Water Management Act 2010. The regulations require the Environment Agency to asses, map and manage flood risk from main rivers, the sea and reservoirs and Lead Local Flood Authorities, including Torbay Council to do so for all other flood risks.

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 came into effect in April 2010. The act takes forward a number of recommendations from the Pitt Review into the 2007 floods and places new responsibilities on the Environment Agency, local authorities and other flood risk authorities to manage the risk of flooding.