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Flood risk management
Read our flood risk management strategy and find out about carrying out work on watercourses
Flood risk management strategy
The strategy explains the roles and responsibilities of local authorities, partners and communities in the management of flood risk in Leicestershire.
We are now designated as a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and hold the lead role in local flood risk management. We are required to develop a local flood risk strategy, which you can read below. Working along with flood risk management partners, we will develop this plan with the aim of reducing the impact of flooding in Leicestershire.
Flood risk management strategy - summary Opens new window
Flood risk management strategy Opens new window
Flood risk management action plan Opens new window
Flood risk management strategy appendix Opens new window
Regulation of activities on watercourses
Regulation is the management of any activity that creates obstructions to flow in watercourses. This is done to ensure that flood risk is managed. It involves giving consent for acceptable work to be carried out and taking enforcement action if work is unacceptable.
Consent to carry out work
To carry out work on, or near to, a watercourse you may need our consent.
We are responsible for granting consent for works on ordinary watercourses. An ordinary watercourse is defined as not being a ‘main river’ and can include streams, ditches, drains etc. other than those that belong to Severn Trent or Anglian Water.
Consent for works on ‘main rivers’ is the responsibility of the Environment Agency.
If you’re unsure what type of watercourse your intended work is on, you can check the main rivers map. If the watercourse is not included on the main river map it is likely to be an ordinary watercourse.
Activities on ordinary watercourses that require consent are those which are likely to cause an obstruction to flow or restrict storage and include culverts, bridges, weirs etc.pens new window
Opens new windowLCC consent application form Opens new window
Please note there is a charge of £50 for each structure or operation for applications made under the Land Drainage Act.
Land drainage consent checklist Opens new window
LCC consent application guidance Opens new window
Consentable activities - cross sections Opens new window
Enforcement action
When work is carried out without consent, and where we deem that consent would have been needed, works cannot be retrospectively consented.
In these cases we will normally take action to ensure the ordinary watercourse is put back to the condition it was in beforehand. This is very important as work carried out without consent has the potential to increase flood risk to people and property.
Waterside living
A ‘riparian landowner’ is someone who owns land next to a river, stream or ditch. The Environment Agency has produced a guide which explains the responsibilities and rights of waterside living.
Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board
There are areas around Bottesford, Redmile and Harby that fall within the responsibility of the Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board. For specific details of the areas and drainage assets that are involved please contact the board directly, email info@tvidb.co.uk, telephone 01636 704371.
Policy documents
Preliminary flood risk assessment (PFRA)
The PFRA gives a summary of flood risk in the county. It includes looking at flooding from the following sources:
- surface runoff
- groundwater
- ordinary watercourses
and any interaction these have with main rivers and the sea.
Leicestershire preliminary flood risk assessment Opens new window
Surface water management plan
The surface water management plan is used to identify areas where there is a high risk of surface water flooding, which could happen because of heavy rainfall. The plan outlines a preferred strategy for managing the risk of surface water flooding.
Loughborough surface water management plan Opens new window
Flood investigations
To increase our understanding of issues and sources of flooding Leicestershire County Council (acting as Lead Local Flood Authority) has carried out the following investigations into flooding incidents within the county. Each investigation includes a summary of the issues found, any actions and potential mitigation for a flood.
Diseworth and Long Whatton Catchment Study - Final Report January 2014 Opens new window
Market Harborough Town Centre - Final Report March 2014 Opens new window
Bardon Road, Coalville - Final Report April 2014 Opens new window
Cothlestone Avenue, Loughborough - Final Report June 2014 Opens new window
Mythe Lane, Witherley - Final Report November 2014 Opens new window
Rugby Close, Market Harborough - Final Report November 2014 Opens new window
Sheepy Magna, Hinckley and Bosworth - Final Report June 2015 Opens new window
Main Street, Burton Overy - Final Report August 2015 Opens new window
Bath Lane, Moira - Final Report August 2015 Opens new window
Shenton village - Final Report October 2015 Opens new window
Main Street, Normanton - Final Report October 2015 Opens new window
Drome / Vercor Close, Coalville - Final Report October 2015 Opens new window
Breedon on the Hill - Final Report November 2018 Opens new windowOpens new window
Burleigh Avenue, Wigston - Final Report December 2018 Opens new window
Granary Close, Kibworth Beauchamp - Final Report April 2019 Opens new window