FRMP are available for each of NI’s three principal river basin districts, North Eastern, Neagh Bann and North Western. The Plans highlight the flood hazards and risks in the 20 most Significant Flood Risk Areas and set out a framework in which measures to manage flood risk will be delivered or planned for at a local level. The aim of the Plans is to manage the adverse consequences that flooding could have on human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity. The Plans 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
- a flood warning system is developed
Each Plan is tailored to the characteristics of the particular river basin. This means that Plans propose catchment based solutions as well as dealing with local problems individually. The Plans will also be coordinated with the River Basin Management Plans produced under the Water Framework Regulations by NIEA.
In preparing the Plans, various elements have been taken into account. These may include:
- flood extent and how a flood may develop
- areas which have the potential to retain flood water, in particular natural flood plains
- land use planning
- environmental objectives of the Water Framework Directive
- environmental conservation
- port infrastructure
- cost of suggested measures against the benefits provided
Progress on implementation will be reported and Plans will be reviewed cyclically every 6 years.
The Flood Risk Management Plans are 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 Plans 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 Flood Risk Management Plans
A Public Consultation on the draft Flood Risk Management Plans took place between 22 December 2014 and 22 June 2015. As result of this consultation, 28 responses were received from a range of government bodies, environmental organisations, fishery interest groups and other interested parties.
Responses to the consultation were considered and a balanced and comprehensive ‘The Response to the Consultation on the draft Flood Risk Management Plans’ document prepared which was published on 17 November 2015.
Production of final Flood Risk Management Plans
Following the Public Consultation, account was taken of the comments received in producing the final Flood Risk Management Plans. 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 Plans.
In accordance with the requirements of the Floods Directive, the final 1st cycle Flood Risk Management Plans covering the 6 year period 2015-2021, were completed and published in December 2015. They can be viewed via the link on this page.