Flood investigation reports and core documents

Winter Floods 2024 Flood Investigation Report

(We will share the link to this document here once it has been published.)

The West Berkshire 2024 flood event covers the period from early January to late March, during which time a significant number of villages across West Berkshire were affected by flooding because of Storms Henk, Isha, and Jocelyn.

Much of the flooding occurred on the 5th of January, following Storm Henk on the 2nd of January. However, areas of West Berkshire remained inundated for varying lengths of time, due to Storms Isha and Jocelyn causing further flooding. Approximately 210 properties experienced a form of flooding because of the 2024 flood event. Of these, approximately 77 properties experienced internal flooding and approximately 133 properties experienced external flooding.

Flooding resulted from multiple sources, such as fluvial, groundwater, sewer, and surface water, creating a complex network of issues.

On 15th and 16th September 2016, a high intensity storm caused surface water flooding to residential and commercial properties, Newbury train station and many parts of the highway network.

This report provides an investigation into impacted areas and recommendations based on site observations.

This report provides an investigation into the causes, mechanisms, consequences and responses associated with flooding in each of the affected areas within West Berkshire during the 2013/2014 flood events.

Heavy rain resulted in significant flooding in many parts of the district from different sources including, rivers, groundwater and public sewers. At least 181 homes and businesses were flooded and the rain caused widespread disruption to parts of the highway network.

A lot of work was done to find out why the 2013/14 flooding happened and what can be done to tackle it differently in the future.

A comprehensive flooding debrief report was completed, including results of surveys of residents, agencies and responders. It provides the background information to the floods and the actions taken as a result.

The report also made recommendations for investigations to improve response and recovery which have since been enacted.

On 20 July 2007, Thatcham suffered widespread surface water flooding, with initial estimates of approximately 1,100 houses flooded, resulting in economic losses to both residents of the area and businesses. The flooding was caused by a combination of runoff from the rural catchment to the north of the town and urban overland flows.

In November 2008 West Berkshire were one of six local authorities awarded funding from Defra to undertake a Pilot Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) to investigate further the mechanism of flooding in Thatcham and identify options to reduce the risk of surface water flooding.

The development of the Thatcham SWMP led to the establishment of the Thatcham Flood Forum and the development of the Thatcham flood alleviation schemes.

Under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) are required to produce a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). This document provides a framework for flood risk management within the boundary of the authority, setting policies and outlining a plan of deliverable actions.

The West Berkshire LFRMS was produced in 2013, and subsequently updated in 2021, following a formal review in 2020. The West Berkshire LFRMS 2021 outlines how the council, in its role as LLFA, will work with other risk management authority partners to better understand, communicate and manage local flood risk, both now and in the future.

This Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2022 document replaces the Level 1 SFRA published by West Berkshire District Council (the Council) in 2008, and the SFRA update published in October 2015. It forms part of the evidence base for the West Berkshire Local Plan Review to 2036 (LPR) and emerging Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP).

The SFRA is a planning tool that will assist the Council in its selection and development of sustainable development sites away from vulnerable flood risk areas in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and its associated Planning Practice Guidance on Flood Risk and Coastal Change.

The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) was carried out as part of the now revoked Flood Risk Regulations (2009).

The West Berkshire Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment characterises the flood risk throughout West Berkshire now and how this might change in the future. It uses this data to determine if any areas are defined as being at significant flood risk.

The PFRA established that, despite the flood history in West Berkshire, no areas qualify for classification as being at significant flood risk. However, Newbury and Thatcham are identified as local adverse flood risk areas due to the impact of flooding in these towns on the towns themselves and adjoining communities.

A review in 2017 suggested there had been no change to the councils understanding of significant flood risk, but did mention how the 2014 floods made us more aware of the impact of flooding.

Under the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), Lead Local Flood Authorities are required to produce a Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS). This document provides a framework for flood risk management within the boundary of the authority, setting policies and outlining a plan of deliverable actions.

This document was superseded by the 2021 Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.