Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) has been prepared in accordance with current best practice and National Policy, including PPS25 Development and Flood Risk (2008). The SFRA has been prepared by consultants approved by the Environment Agency and in consultation with several key organisations, notably Northumbrian Water (NWL) and the Environment Agency (EA).
An original Sunderland SFRA was published in 2007. Since then, important changes have occurred that necessitates this new report, including revisions to PPS25.
The SFRA will assist in making the spatial planning decisions required to inform the Local Development Framework (LDF). The SFRA will be used as a planning tool to enable the City Council to select sustainable development allocations away from areas of potential flood risk, as well as it being a material consideration by the Council in the development management process and to assist with emergency planning, shoreline management and drainage responsibilities.
The assessment has focused on the existing development sites within the city but also sets out procedures to be followed when assessing additional sites for development in the future.
The report details that flooding is not a significant concern in Sunderland as flood zones are constrained largely to the narrow margins along the River Wear and other smaller watercourses e.g. the River Don. The only areas of any extent recognised as potential flood risk are located in low lying areas including Sunderland Docks, South Hylton, Penshaw and Fatfield, Sedgeletch and Rainton Bridge.
The courses of Hendon Burn, Lumley Park Burn, Usworth Burn, River Don and Cut Throat Dene at Seaburn are identified as having the potential for flooding. Incursions along the coast are largely limited by the cliffs except for the sea front at Seaburn and parts of the North Dock area. Areas with concentrations of surface water flooding potential can be seen in Hetton-le-Hole, western and northern Houghton-le-Spring, Lakeside/Silksworth sports complex, Hendon Burn, the Port and parts of Nissan and land to its north.
Critical Drainage Areas have been identified in Sunderland within the drainage areas of Barnes Burn, Hendon Burn, Houghton/ Hetton, Herrington, Seaburn/Roker and central Washington.
SFRA 2010 Volume I - SFRA Guidance (PDF, 2 MB)
SFRA 2010 Volume II - Technical Report (PDF, 3 MB)
SFRA 2010 Climate Change Map B1 (PDF, 1 MB)
SFRA 2010 Climate Change Map B2 (PDF, 2 MB)
SFRA 2010 Surface Water and Sewer Map C1 (PDF, 11 MB)
SFRA 2010 Surface Water and Sewer Map C2 (PDF, 11 MB)
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