Definition of Flood Plains

Flood plains are the generally flat areas adjacent to watercourses or the sea where water flows in time of flooding or would flow but for the presence of flood defences. The extent of a flood plain is defined by the peak water level of an appropriate return period event taking account of the predicted impacts of climate change. For the purposes of this policy, the Council will apply flood plains as defined by DfI Rivers. These are currently as follows: • River (Fluvial) Flood Plain - 1 in 100-year probability or Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of 1% incorporating climate change prediction. • Coastal Flood Plain - 1 in 200-year probability or Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of 0.5% incorporating climate change prediction.