Ben Lukey, National Flood Risk Assessment 2 (NaFRA2) Project Executive, has shared the advantages of the new NaFRA, highlighting the updated datasets and detailing, while also encouraging Lead Local Flood Authorities to continue sharing local detailed mapping.
The Environment Agency published our new National Flood Risk Assessment report in December 2024 and detailed data in January 2025. This included updated datasets and mapping detailing the Risk of Flooding from Surface Water. For the first time the risk assessment also identifies areas that may be at risk in the future. This is based on climate change leading to increased frequency of storms that can worsen flooding. The updated datasets and mapping also shows characteristics such as potential flood depths and likelihood to support better impact analysis.
The new mapping has the unique advantage of being able to make use of output from more than 200 detailed local models of surface water developed by Lead Local Flood Authorities. The Risk of Flooding from Surface Water mapping outputs provide a best estimate of the areas at risk and flood depths in a format that we know a wide range of national and local users find most helpful.
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The publication of updated surface water flooding data provides a more complete view of flood risks. It helps authorities identify areas vulnerable to flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall to inform local emergency response plans. This data is also essential for urban planners, emergency services, and infrastructure developers. For example, Strategic Flood Risk Assessments (SFRAs) produced by local authorities can now use the most up to date surface water risk maps, prepared using state of the art modelling software, improved modelling techniques and latest background data (rainfall, topography). The new maps can inform investment planning and decisions, including identification of areas suitable for implementing SuDS or surface water storage areas. They can also be used to help create and update surface water plans and local flood risk strategies.
Lead Local Flood Authorities are invited to continue to share local detailed mapping for inclusion in the published surface water maps on an ongoing basis as there will regular updates to these published mapping products.
Ben Lukey, National Flood Risk Assessment 2 (NaFRA2) Project Executive says: “Our new National Flood Risk Assessment provides more detailed and useful surface water flood mapping data than ever before. We’re really keen its used across the flood industry and welcome partnerships with lead local flood authorities who are able to share local flood mapping information that we can include in the data available to all online.”
Further information can be found here:
Risk of flooding from surface water – understanding and using the map - GOV.UK
Our national flood risk assessment report can be found here:
National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024 - GOV.UK
This page explains how to access our free surface water flood risk assessment data online:
[Main image credit: John Gomez / shutterstock.com]