Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA)

The Flood and Water Management Act in 2010 (FWMA 2010) gives us the lead role for managing local flood risk through the creation of LLFA.  

Our responsibilities

As LLFA for the borough of Croydon, we are responsible for managing local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. However, the Environment Agency (EA) maintains a national overview and lead on flood risk from main rivers, coasts and reservoirs.

Sources of local flood risk include:

• Groundwater flooding
• Surface water flooding
• River flooding
   

As a LLFA, we have anumber of responsibilities under FWMA 2010 to help reduce and manage flooding within the borough. We have a duty to:

• manage local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses
• co-operate and work with other risk management authorities including the EA and Thames Water
• prepare and maintain a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
• maintain a register of assets that have an effect on flood risk
• designate significant flood risk assets or features which then cannot be removed without permission from the Council 
• investigate significant flood incidents and publish the results
• regulate ordinary watercourses to maintain a flow and provide consent to any proposed work which affects the flow of an ordinary watercourse
• respond to and provide comments on major planning applications with regards to sustainable drainage, drainage and flood risk
• play a lead role in emergency planning and recovery after a flood event as a category one responder
• provide and manage highway drainage and roadside ditches as a Highways Authority

We work closely with external bodies such as the EA, Thames Water, TfL and neighbouring boroughs to provide a joined-up approach. We will work with private land and asset owners to reduce and mitigate the risk of flooding when required.

Flood investigations

As a Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), we have a duty to investigate flood incidents where we consider it necessary or appropriate. The investigation will determine:

• which risk management authorities have relevant flood risk management functions
• whether each of those risk management authorities has exercised, or is proposing to exercise, those functions in response to the flood

When we carry out an investigation, we must publish the results and notify any relevant risk management authorities. The duty to investigate flood incidents is set out under Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
 

When we would carry out a flood investigation

Investigations are often complex. They involve a significant amount of time and resources and therefore can be costly. However, we will attend every reported flooding incident and then make an assessment whether to carry out a detailed investigation under the terms of FWMA 2010. All reported incidents are investigated but the actions taken as a result will differ depending on the incident. The LLFA has a duty to keep a register of flood incidents reported.

The procedure Flood Investigation Protocol (PDF, 258.36KB), has been drafted to guide officers in their decision-making and details the criteria for flood events which require a formal investigation. The Flood Investigation Protocol will remain a living document and be adjusted to lessons learnt as flood incidents occur.
 

Download the Flood Investigation Protocol (PDF, 258.36KB),

Flood investigation reports

When a flood investigation report is complete and has undergone consultation with the relevant risk management authorities, it is approved by the Chief Executive of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and then formally published.   These are public documents that may be downloaded and copied for personal use but remain the copyright of Croydon Council.

Download flood investigation reports

Caterham Bourne newsletter - March 2017 (PDF, 1.87MB)
Caterham Drive S19 Flood Investigation Report - January 2017 (PDF, 9.86MB)
Croydon Flood Investigation Report - August 2015 (PDF, 1.81MB)
Merstham Bourne S19 Flood Investigation Report – February 2015 (PDF, 4.08MB)
Caterham Bourne S19 Flood Investigation Report – October 2014 (PDF, 2.26MB)

Local flood risk management strategy

As Local Lead Flood Authority, we have a duty, under Section 9 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management.  The Environment Agency is required to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management in England (a “national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy”).

Progress of the local strategy is tracked and reviewed via the Action Plan. This is monitored through the Council Flood Management Group which meets quarterly and is made up of various Council teams with flood risk management responsibilities. 

We adopted the strategy in January 2024 following formal consultation in 2023.

Download the Local flood risk management strategy (PDF, 893MB)

The strategy must specify:

• the risk management authorities in the authority’s area
• the flood and coastal erosion risk management functions of those authorities
• the objectives for managing local flood risk
• the measures proposed to achieve those objectives
• how and when the measures are expected to be implemented
• the costs and benefits of those measures, and how they are to be paid for
• the assessment of local flood risk for the purpose of the strategy
• how and when the strategy is to be reviewed
• how the strategy contributes to the achievement of wider environmental objectives.

Flood Asset Register

We maintain a register and record of assets that have an impact on the risk of flooding. An asset is a structure or feature that can affect the flow or storage of water. The asset register can be made available to view upon request to floodandwater@croydon.gov.uk.