Flood Library
Flood Guides
Explore and download our interactive Flood Guides, providing you with all you need to know about floodingFlood Guide 1: Agricultural Runoff
Want to know more about flooding from agricultural run-off? Download this guide to find out where to get help, support and legal advice; and what you can do to help reduce the impacts of this type of flooding.
Flood Guide 2: Ditch Clearance
Find advice on how to maintain your ditch in this guide! Inside is important advice on what you should do and how to consider wildlife and any legal aspects when clearing.
Flood Guide 3: Flood Investigations
If you want to find out when and how Northamptonshire County Council carry out flood investigations, then download this guide. Completed flood investigations can be found and downloaded in this Flood Library.
Flood Guide 4: Watercourse Management
Watercourse maintenance plays a key role in flood risk management. Download this guide for help with developing a maintenance guide and advice on de-silting and consenting.
Flood Guide 5: Flood Related Benefits of the Water Framework Directive
What is the Water Framework Directive and why is it important to flooding? Find out here!
Flood Guide 6: Reservoirs and Flooding
Find out what you need to know if you live near a reservoir and how owners keep you and your property safe from the threats of flooding.
Flood Guide 7: Funding for Flood Alleviation
If there’s a flooding issue in your community find out how to generate funding to solve the problem! Or why not visit our Funding page and try out the Funding Tool?
Flood Guide 8: Roles and Responsibilities for Sewers
Where do the sewer company responsibilities stop and your responsibilities start? Find out in this guide.
Flood Guide 9: Roles and Responsibilities for Highways
Experiencing flooding on the roads and want to know who’s responsible? This guide provides all you need to know to contact the right people.
Flood Guide 10: Groundwater Flooding
Groundwater flooding can be a tricky situation, but there are steps you can take to reduce the impact. Download and find out what these are!
Flood Guide 11: What to do in a Flood Emergency
What to do in a flood emergency? Stay calm! The answers are in this guide.
Flood Guide 12: How to Protect your Home
Don’t let the flood water impact on your lives anymore! Read on to find ways of protecting protect your home and valuables.
Flood Guide 13: Insurance and Flood Risk
No matter your location, you may be at risk of flooding and need insurance. Download to ensure you’ve taken the steps to get the right cover for you.
Flood Guide 14: Using Experts for Flood Risk Assessment
If you’re at risk of flooding why not get professional advice on how best to solve it?
Flood Guide 15: Riparian Ownership and Flood Risk
If there’s a watercourse in or adjacent to your land then you have a responsibility! Download this guide to find out what your responsibility is and how to reduce your flood risk.
Flood Guide 16: Land Drainage Consenting
Thinking of carrying out works on a bank or watercourse? You may need consent! Read this guide to find out before you start.
Flood Guide 17: Using Agricultural Land for Attenuation
Hard engineered flood defences can be very costly. Why not consider using agricultural land in the floodplain to reduce flooding instead?
Flood Guide 18: Enforcing Flood Risk Management
Northamptonshire County Council is required to investigate all “significant flooding incidents” and work with those responsible to help resolve them. Download to find out more about this process.
Flood Guide 19: Flood Related Roles of Parish Councils and Communities
Did you know Parish Councils and local residents can play an important role in managing flood risk and can attract funding to carry out flood mitigation work? Download and see how to get involved.
Flood Guide 20: Buying a House: Is there a Flood Risk?
There are always a lot of important decisions to make when buying a house. Download this guide to help make flood risk an easier one.
Flood Guide 21: Flood Warnings
Would you like to be warned about flooding before it happens? Download to find out how.
Flood Guide 22: Neighbourhood Planning and Flood Risk
Find out what your community can do to help itself reduce flood risk now and in the future.
Flood Guide 23: New Development and Emergency Flood Plans
As a developer you may be responsible for producing an emergency plan for your development. Download to find out what you need to do.
Flood Guide 24: Fisheries and Flooding
This guide provides useful facts and ideas to help keep fish in the river you love to fish in, whilst helping fisheries stay healthy.
Flood Guide 25: Flood Advice for Businesses
It could take your business up to 14 months to recover from flooding. Download this guide to make sure you stay afloat after flooding.
Flood Guide 26: Impacts of Flooding
Learn more about the real impacts of flooding and how it can affect your property, health and the environment.
Flood Guide 27: Together we can Reduce Flood Risk
Discover how you, as a community, can help to reduce the risk of flooding in your area.
Flood Guide 28: Natural Flood Management
Learn about the principles of natural flood management – how if implemented correctly, it can be a cost-effective way of helping to protect communities from flooding and enhancing the natural world.
Flood Guide 29: Keeping Animals Safe in a Flood
Discover how you can keep your farm animals or pets safe in a flood.
Statutory and Project Documents
Find out more about the County Council's role as Lead Local Flood Authority in these statutory documents.Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS)
As Lead Local Flood Authority for Northamptonshire, the County Council needs to ‘develop, maintain, apply and monitor’ a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. The strategy focuses on local flood risk resulting from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses flooding. The interaction with main river flooding has also been assessed. The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy is therefore an important document that sets out the management of flood risk in Northamptonshire for the coming years.
LFRMS Action Plan
The Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) includes an Action Plan, which highlights the key objectives of the LFRMS
and the associated actions required to achieve them. It also draws out previously identified actions within flood and water technical documents related to Northamptonshire, which have not yet been implemented. The Action Plan identifies actions from all partners within the County, to provide an overview of proposed flood risk management activities within the County. As well as information directly from partners, the Action Plan includes a number of potential flood alleviation schemes which require further investigation to assess their viability, compiled from information drawn from a number of different sources.
LFRMS Public Summary
A summary of the Northamptonshire County Council Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for the public.
LFRMS GIS and Prioritisation Report
The aim of this report was to determine the flood risk from various sources affecting various
receptors within each ward of Northamptonshire. The wards could then be compared to determine
a ranked list of risk, with the most at risk ward ranked as 1.
LFRMS Strategic Environmental Assessment Non Technical Summary
This document is a Non-technical Summary of the main Environmental Report on the Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. It provides a summary of the three Parts which form the Environmental Report; including the Introduction, Scoping Report and Results of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Proposed Monitoring Strategy.
LFRMS Strategic Environmental Assessment Part 1 - Introduction
Part 1: Introduction sets the context for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and discusses parallel assessments, providing an outline of the content and main objectives of the Northamptonshire Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and identifies where the requirements of the SEA Regulations have been met in the Environmental Report.
LFRMS Strategic Environmental Assessment Part 2 - Scoping Report
Part 2: Scoping Report sets out the scope of the Strategic Environmental Assessment, baseline data about Northamptonshire County, the environmental objectives and targets of relevant other documents, key environmental issues and the assessment framework to be used to assess the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
LFRMS Strategic Environmental Assessment Part 3 - Assessment
Part 3: Results of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
and Proposed Monitoring Strategy sets out the assessment methodology, the findings of the SEA of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) and reasonable alternatives, identifies the significant environmental effects of the LFRMS and proposes a strategy for monitoring significant effects.
LFRMS Strategic Environmental Assessment - Adoption Statement
The Adoption Statement explains how environmental (and sustainability) considerations have been integrated into the plan/strategy; how the Environmental Report has been taken into account during preparation of the plan/strategy; how the opinions expressed by the public, consultation bodies (and where appropriate other European Member States) during consultation on the plan and Environmental Report have been taken into account; the reasons for choosing the plan/strategy as adopted, in the light of the other reasonable alternatives; and the measures that are to be taken to monitor the significant environmental and sustainability effects of the implementation of the plan/strategy.
LFRMS Habitat Regulations Assessment Screening
This Habitat Regulation Assessment Screening and Scoping Report addresses the identification and description of European Sites within 10km of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS) area that may potentially be affected by the LFRMS Objectives, policies and associated action plan. It also identifies potential pathways of impact and likely significant effects of the LFRMS on the integrity of designated sites within its catchment.
LFRMS Equality Impact Assessment
Northamptonshire County Council takes equality and diversity seriously. The council believes in the dignity of all people and their right to respect and equality of opportunity. We want to provide a high quality and appropriate service for everyone in Northamptonshire. Through Equality Impact Assessments, we assess council policies to identify whether the needs of different community groups have been sufficiently considered. These assessments allow policymakers to consider whether more community consultation is needed before a change of service delivery may be required.
LFRMS Frequently Asked Questions
This document provides a list of questions and answers which have been compiled to explain how Northamptonshire County Council is approaching the management of local flood risk.
LFRMS Communication, Engagement and Consultation Strategy
Effective communication is fundamental to promoting better community relations and awareness of flood risk management issues, and encouraging people at risk to take action before and during a flood. As a result this document sets out the communication strategy for flood risk management.
Northamptonshire Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Main Report 2011
The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) provides a high-level summary of significant flood risk, based on available information, describing both the probability and consequences of past and future flooding. The report has assisted with the development of our local flood risk management strategy which has been developed to manage local flooding within Northamptonshire. The scope of the PFRA is to consider flooding from surface runoff, ground water and ordinary watercourses and any interaction these sources have with main rivers.
Northamptonshire Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Review 2017
This self-assessment form is provided to enable each Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) in England to complete the first review of its PFRA and identification of flood risk areas (FRAs), as required by the Flood Risk Regulations (2009). This document therefore provides a 2017 review of the original 2011 Northamptonshire PFRA Main Report.
Northamptonshire Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment Appendix 2017
An appendix to the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, including records of past flooding, future floods and flood risk areas.
Groundwater Flood Risk Study - Main Report
As part of the Northamptonshire County Council Groundwater Flood Risk Study, a suite of documents have been produced. The main report seeks to improve understanding of the risk from groundwater flooding in the county.
Groundwater Flood Risk Study - Appendices
As part of the Northamptonshire County Council Groundwater Flood Risk Study, a suite of documents have been produced. This document shows the appendices of the main report.
Groundwater Flood Risk Study - Figures from Report
As part of the Northamptonshire County Council Groundwater Flood Risk Study, a suite of documents have been produced. This document contains all the figures from the main report. Please be aware this file is very large and may take several minutes to open.
Groundwater Flood Risk Study - Northamptonshire Flood Risk Map
As part of the Northamptonshire County Council Groundwater Flood Risk Study, a suite of documents have been produced. This document displays a groundwater flood risk map of Northamptonshire
Corby Flood Risk Management Study
The aim of the Corby Flood Risk Management Study is to identify an implementation plan for flood risk management.
Daventry Surface Water Management Plan
The aim of the Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plans – Daventry District Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) project is to develop a SWMP to identify the magnitude of flooding issues in the Daventry District and measures to address flood risks.
East Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plan
The aim of the Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plans – East Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) project is to develop a SWMP to identify the magnitude of flooding issues in East Northamptonshire and measures to address flood risks.
Northampton Surface Water Management Plan
The aim of the Northampton Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) project is to develop a SWMP to identify the magnitude of flooding issues in Northampton and measures to address flood risks.
South Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plan
The aim of the Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plans – South Northamptonshire District Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) project is to develop a SWMP to identify the magnitude of flooding issues in the South Northamptonshire District and measures to address flood risks.
Wellingborough Surface Water Management Plan
The aim of the Northamptonshire Surface Water Management Plans – Borough of Wellingborough Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) project is to develop a SWMP to identify the magnitude of flooding issues in the Borough of Wellingborough and measures to address flood risks.
West Northamptonshire Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Update
This Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Update collates and reviews available information on flood risk for West Northamptonshire. This enables a review of the preliminary site allocations, in the Local Plan Part 2, through the Sequential Test process, to determine if a Level 2 SFRA is required within the scope.
West Northamptonshire Level 1 SFRA Strategic Map Document
This document provides a suite of detailed flood risk maps for West Northamptonshire and provides a basis for applying the Sequential Test.
West Northamptonshire Level 1 SFRA Site Specific Map Document
This document provides a suite of detailed flood risk maps for the Local Plan Part 2 site allocations in West Northamptonshire and provides a basis for applying the Sequential Test.
Corby Borough Council Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Update
This Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Update collates and reviews available information on flood risk for Corby. This enables a review of the preliminary site allocations, in the Local Plan Part 2, through the Sequential Test process, to determine if a Level 2 SFRA is required within the scope.
Corby Borough Council Level 1 SFRA Strategic Map Document
This document provides a suite of detailed flood risk maps for Corby and provides a basis for applying the Sequential Test.
Corby Borough Council Level 1 Site Specific Map Document
This document provides a suite of detailed flood risk maps for the Local Plan Part 2 site allocations in Corby and provides a basis for applying the Sequential Test.
East Northamptonshire Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1
This Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Update collates and reviews available information on flood risk for East Northamptonshire Council. This enables a review of the preliminary site allocations through the Sequential Test process, to determine if a Level 2 SFRA is required within the scope.
East Northamptonshire Council SFRA Annex A Level 1 Strategic Maps
This document provides a suite of detailed flood risk maps for East Northamptonshire Council and provides a basis for applying the Sequential Test.
East Northamptonshire Council SFRA Annex B Level 1 Site Maps
This document provides a suite of detailed flood risk maps for East Northamptonshire Council and provides a basis for applying the Sequential Test.
East Northamptonshire Council SFRA Appendices 3a-4e
This document contains Appendices 3a-4e which accompany the East Northamptonshire Council SFRA Report
Kettering SWMP
The aim of a SWMP is to understand and investigate complex, high risk surface water flooding problems in urbanised areas and how they may interact with other flood sources, such as flooding from rivers, across the Borough.
Community and Landowner Guidance
Explore our suite of useful guides to help you as a community or landowner become more flood resilient.Flood Warden Handbook
Volunteer Flood Wardens have been asked to come forward, to support their local communities with help and advice before, during and after surface water flooding. This handbook has been produced as part of the training needed for these volunteers to help them carry out their role effectively and safely.
Ditch Clearance Guidelines
Ditches that run within the limits of the highway do not usually form part of the highway and remain the responsibility of the adjacent landowner or occupier. This guidnace provides advice and information on how best to keep your ditches clear and reduce the risk of flooding to yourself and your community.
Consent form for ordinary watercourses
If you are planning on carrying out works on a watercourse you may need to complete this Northamptonshire County Council Flood Consent Form.
Homeowner's Guide to Flood Resilience
An all inclusive guide for homeowners looking to become more flood resilient. This includes important information on where to find help, a list of flood protection products with indicative costs and a directory of flood protection product manufacturers and suppliers.
Community Flood Plan and Emergency Template
A partnership Community Emergency and Flood Plan from the Environment Agency and Northamptonshire County Council to be downloaded and completed to ensure your community is prepared for flooding and other emergencies.
Household Flood and Emergency Plan Template
A partnership Household or Individual Emergency and Flood Plan Template from the Northamptonshire County Council to be downloaded and completed to ensure you, your family and your property is prepared for flooding and other emergencies.
Community Resilience Volunteer
A partnership Community Resilience Volunteer Handbook from the Northamptonshire County Council to be downloaded and assist you in your role.
Flood Mitigation Measures Guide
This guide sets out the various flood protection products and measures currently available and has been adapted from
information found on the “Know Your Flood Risk” campaign website. It aims to clarify the variety of ways in which a community or a property can be protected or made more resilient, and sets out when it is appropriate to use them.
Community Flood Store Catalogue
A community flood store can include equipment and tools that your community can access before, during and after heavy rainfall events which can cause flooding. The contents could also help to mitigate and reduce the impacts of flooding, making communities more resilient. Northamptonshire County Council has compiled this list of equipment as a guide for your community, with estimated costs included.
Flood Recovery Guide
An interactive guide providing advice and guidance to help victims of flooding through the initial stages of recovery.
Grab Bag Checklist
A checklist of all you need to include in your Emergency Grab Bag. Remember to keep your Grab Bag in an easily accessible location so you don’t forget it when you need it!
Parish/Town Council Flood Letter Template 1
These letters provide a template for Parish and Town Councils to ask landowners to clear their ditches and watercourses in order to reduce the risk of flooding in the community.
Parish/Town Council Flood Letter Template 2
These letters provide a template for Parish and Town Councils to ask landowners to clear their ditches and watercourses in order to reduce the risk of flooding in the community.
Water on Your Land - Your Rights and Responsibilities
Advice for landowners as to their legal responsibilites and rights with regard to any surface water or river water on or adjacent to their land.
Case Studies
Find out how organisations in Northamptonshire have reduced their risk of flooding.Gainsborough Road, Corby Flood Alleviation Scheme
Gainsborough Road in Corby has a history of flooding and after a Formal Section 19 Flood Investigation in 2014 Northamptonshire County Council stepped in as Lead Local Flood Authority to manage a programme of works to mitigate the flood risk in the area.
Helmdon Flood Alleviation Scheme
Helmdon has a history of flooding and after a Formal Section 19 Flood Investigation in 2012 Northamptonshire County Council stepped in as Lead Local Flood Authority to manage a programme of works to mitigate the flood risk in the area.
Syresham Flood Alleviation Scheme
Syresham has a history of flooding and after a Formal Section 19 Flood Investigation in 2012 Northamptonshire County Council stepped in as Lead Local Flood Authority to manage a programme of works to mitigate the flood risk in
the area.
Business Resilience Case Study - Plantool Hire
This case study describes how a tool hire depot operated by Plantool Ltd in Kettering was affected by flooding in June 2007, and the steps the company has taken to minimise the impact that future flooding could have on the business.
Business Resilience Case Study - Granary Hotel
This case study describes how The Granary Hotel and the Fawsley Estate near Daventry, Northamptonshire, undertook work to improve the flow of a stream running close to the hotel, creating space to store water and reducing flood risk to protect the business.
Pathfinder Documents
Explore and download documents relating to the Pathfinder Community Flood Resilience Project.Pathfinder Community Information Brochure
This community information brochure provides information for community members about the work of the Pathfinder project and how to get involved.
Pathfinder Community Information Brochure
Please see this information brochure which you are able to download and/or print to provide to members of your community.
Pathfinder Template Newsletter Article
This article provides a template which can be used to promote a community’s participation in the Pathfinder III project, for example in a local newsletter.
Pathfinder II Poster
This poster can be used to promote the Pathfinder II project within the community.
Pathfinder III Project Poster
Please feel free to download and use this poster to help promote community involvement in the Pathfinder III Project.
Pathfinder III Project Poster
Please feel free to download and use this poster to help promote the Pathfinder project in your community and the ways in which people can get involved.
Flood Warden Pathfinder II Poster
This poster can be used to advertise the role of Flood Warden within the community.
Flood Warden Poster
Please feel free to download and use this poster to advertise for the position of flood warden in your community.
Flood Warden Recruitment Poster
Please feel free to download and use this poster to help promote the role of flood warden in your community.
Flood Aware Poster
Please feel free to download, print and use this poster to help promote preparedness and flood awareness in your community.
Flood Aware Poster - Winter Storms
Please feel free to download, print and use this poster to promote preparedness and awareness of winter storms and flooding in your community.
Updated: Pathfinder III Application for Funds Form A
TThis form forms the first part of an application for funding from the Pathfinder III project to undertake works or to purchase products/services which will provide a benefit to flood risk management.
Updated: Pathfinder III Application for Funds Form B
This form forms the second part of an application for funding from the Pathfinder III project. Please note that this form will only need to be completed if the proposal includes physical works to a watercourse, structure or asset.
Pathfinder Newsletter Summer 2018
Please see our Summer 2018 edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter for the latest updates on the project and information about how to get involved.
Pathfinder Newsletter Spring 2018
Please see our Spring 2018 edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter for the latest updates on the project.
Pathfinder Newsletter Winter 2017
Please see our Winter 2017 edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter for updates on the project and information about volunteering opportunities in emergency planning.
Pathfinder Newsletter Autumn 2017
Please see our Autumn 2017 edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter for updates on the project and information about the what, when and how of ditch maintenance.
Pathfinder Newsletter Summer 2017
Please see our Summer 2017 edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter for updates on the project and information about riparian ownership and responsibilities.
Pathfinder Newsletter Spring 2017
Please see our Spring 2017 edition of the Pathfinder Newsletter for updates on the project and information from the Royal Life Saving Society about summer water safety.
Pathfinder Newsletter Winter 2016
Please see our first edition of the new Pathfinder Newsletter for information about the project and what you can do to get involved.
