Flooding information documents

This section contains a series of statutory documentation for St Helens Borough Council as the designated Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and our additional drainage powers.

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment

As an LLFA, we're required by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and Flood Risk Regulations 2009 to produce a Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA). The PFRA highlights areas of potentially significant flood risk. This assessment provides a high-level summary of significant flood risk, based on historic information and regional data.

Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) 2017-2023 (PDF) [4MB] (opens new window)

Lead Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

For our statutory responsibilities as an LLFA, we've developed a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). This document has been developed to better understand and manage flood risk within the borough and to formalise and develop our partnerships in respect of flood risk.

The strategy clearly illustrates links with other key Risk Management Authorities that are responsible for managing aspects of flooding. It also highlights the LLFA's role in managing flood risk locally and in the development and maintenance of a structured local flood risk strategy. This document and its appendices are currently under review.

Asset register

Under Section 21 of the Flood and Water Management Act, Lead Local Flood Authorities are required to maintain a register and record of all structures and features that are anticipated to have an effect on flood risk in the area. These records include basic information about each of the assets, such as information on ownership and state of repair.

St Helens Borough Council Asset Register

Note: Ownerships of the assets within the register are currently under review and the table heading should state Risk Management Authority instead of Owner.

The council must establish and maintain:

A register of structures or features which, in our opinion, are likely to have a significant effect on a flood risk in our area;
A record of information about each of those structures or features, including information about ownership and state of repair; and
The LLFA must arrange for the register to be available for inspection at all reasonable times.

Land drainage consent

Alterations to watercourses in the borough require consent from either the Environment Agency or the council; this applies to developments that already have planning permission or other consents. Consent is brought about by amendments to the Land Drainage Act 1991 by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, in order to manage flood risk in the borough. You will require consent to carry out works on, near or over main rivers and ordinary watercourses whether temporary or permanent.

Who to contact for certain consent:

Main rivers: Environment Agency
Ordinary watercourses including streams, drains and ditches, and passages through which water flows that do not form the network of main rivers: St Helens Borough Council

Details of consentable activities can be found in the application pack below. Please get in touch with us before any Land Drainage Consent submission to discuss.

Land Drainage Consent Application Form (PDF) [177KB] (opens new window)

St Helens Borough Council byelaws

St Helens Borough Council has established land drainage byelaws which can be used in conjunction with the consent, management, and enforcement of ordinary watercourses.