The second cycle Flood Risk Management Plan 2021-27 highlights the flood hazards and risks in the Areas of Potential Significant Flood Risk in NI from rivers, the sea and surface water. The plan identifies the Objectives and Measures that will be undertaken to manage the risk of flooding and sets out how the relevant authorities will work together with communities to manage flood risks.
Differing from the first cycle, the second cycle FRMP consolidates each of NI’s three principal river basin districts, North Eastern, Neagh Bann and North Western into one plan. The Plan highlights the flood hazards and risks in the 12 Areas of Potential Significant Flood Risk (APSFR) and sets out a framework in which measures to manage flood risk will be delivered or planned for at a local level. The aim of the Plan is to manage the adverse consequences that flooding could have on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The Plan continues to focus on the ‘3 Ps’ in relation to managing aspects of flood risk:
- Prevention
- Protection
- Preparedness
For example they may recommend that:
- new structural flood defences are built;
- existing flood defence assets are to be maintained in order to ensure; that an acceptable standard of flood protection is provided;
- we promote natural flood management techniques;
- people improve the flood resilience of their homes where no viable; structural measure is available;
- flood warning and informing systems are developed.
The Plan proposes catchment based solutions as well as dealing with local problems individually. The Plan will also be coordinated with the River Basin Management Plan produced under the Water Framework Regulations by NIEA.
In preparing the Plan, various elements have been taken into account. These may include:
- flood extent and how a flood may develop;
- current flood defences;
- areas which have the potential to retain flood water, in particular natural flood plains;
- impacts of Climate Change;
- land use planning;
- environmental objectives of the Water Framework Regulations;
- environmental conservation;
- port infrastructure;
- cost of suggested measures against the benefits provided.
Progress on implementation will be reported and the second cycle Plan will be reviewed in 6 years’ time as per legislative requirement.
The Flood Risk Management Plan is available in PDF format via the following link:
As we share three* International River Basin Districts with the Republic of Ireland, we work closely with the Office of Public Works to coordinate our Plan and ensure that our measures do not negatively impact on one another.
* The Shannon International River Basin District can be disregarded from our flood risk considerations as the catchment within Northern Ireland is very small with no watercourses or flood history and therefore has no areas of significant flood risk.
Consultation on the draft second cycle Flood Risk Management Plan
A Public Consultation on the draft second cycle Flood Risk Management Plan took place between 22 December 2020 and 25 June 2021. As a result of this consultation, 22 responses were received from a range of government bodies, political parties, professional bodies, environmental organisations and other interested parties.
Responses to the consultation were considered and a balanced and comprehensive Public Consultation Report on the draft Flood Risk Management Plan 2021-2027’ document prepared which was published in December 2021.
Production of the second cycle Flood Risk Management Plan
Following the Public Consultation, account was taken of the comments received in producing the second cycle Flood Risk Management Plan. A reference list of the changes resulting from the consultation is included in Appendix F of the Plan. It should be noted that the Public Consultation did not necessitate significant changes to the objectives and measures identified to manage flood risk, over the life time of the Plan.
In accordance with the requirements of the Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 the final second cycle Flood Risk Management Plan covering the 6 year period 2021-2027, was completed and published in December 2021. It can be viewed via the link on this page.