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Flood risk map

We have developed a flood risk map so that flood risk data developed or created as part of our flood risk studies can be visualised.

How to use the flood risk map

Click on the Quick Link above to open the flood risk map. Using the legend on the left-hand side of the screen, you can turn off and on the various layers using the tick boxes. The plus and minus symbols open and close the legends associated with each layer.

There are two categories of datasets:

  1. Drainage datasets present the flood risk datasets that the council is legally required to maintain, datasets that have been developed or created as part of our Flood risk studies and other useful data sets.
  2. General admin dataset contains the Leicester City Council authority boundary, nearby district/borough council boundaries, and wards within the city. It is recommended that the Leicester wards and city boundary layers are activated when using the map.

Descriptions of each layer have been provided in the next section for reference purposes.

Layers presented in the flood risk map

Drainage

  • Flood risk assets – this presents the locations of assets that are deemed to have a significant effect on flood risk in Leicester. It is a requirement of Section 21 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to maintain a register of these assets.
  • OW 8m Buffer – this presents the 8-metre buffer applied to Ordinary Watercourses and this is used for consideration in the Planning process. This is for the purpose of maintaining access to Ordinary Watercourses and to inform whether Ordinary Watercourse consent is required.
  • OW (LCC Defined) – these are Ordinary Watercourses as defined by Leicester City Council. These are Ordinary Watercourses that have not been defined or mapped previously by the Environment Agency. This should be used in conjunction with OW & Canal (EA Defined) for a more complete picture of Ordinary Watercourses in Leicester. Please note that some small ditches and drainage channels, which are classified as Ordinary Watercourses, may not have been formally mapped.
  • OW & Canal (EA Defined) – This presents Ordinary Watercourses and canals that have been defined and mapped by the Environment Agency. This should be used in conjunction with OW (LCC Defined) for a more complete picture of Ordinary Watercourses in Leicester.
  • OW Flood Extent 2 – presents the modelled flood extent with a return period of between 1 in 100-year (1%) and 1 in 1000-year (0.1%) annual chance probability. This originates from flood risk modelling associated with the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2022.
  • OW Flood Extent 3A - presents the modelled flood extent with a return period of between 1 in 20-year (5%) and 1 in 100-year (1%) annual chance probability. This originates from flood risk modelling associated with the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2022.
  • OW Flood Extent 3B - presents the modelled flood extent with a return period of greater than 1 in 20-year (>5%) annual chance probability. This originates from flood risk modelling associated with the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2022.
  • Main Watercourse – This presents the Main Rivers as defined by the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency’s Main River map can also be viewed at: Main river map for England: proposed changes and decisions - GOV.UK.
  • Final Hotspots - These are areas where properties have been identified as most at risk to surface water flooding within the associated critical drainage area. Where a surface water flooding hotspot does not reside within a critical drainage area, it is considered a risk due to the size of the property, its associated impermeable surfaces, and its nature as critical infrastructure. This originates from flood risk modelling associated with the Surface Water Management Plan 2012.
  • Critical drainage area - These are the catchment areas for the corresponding surface water flooding hotspot. Surface water runoff within a critical drainage area, is likely to contribute to surface water flooding in the associated surface water hotspot. The critical drainage area designation itself, does not indicate whether an area is at significant risk of flooding. This originates from flood risk modelling associated with the Surface Water Management Plan 2012.

General Admin

  • Development Areas – this presents the city’s development areas, which are to be used when conducting the sequential test for flood risk in Leicester. This is used as part of the planning application process and further information on how and when to undertake the Sequential test is available at: Sequential and exception tests.
  • Leicester Wards – this presents the ward boundaries and the associated ward name within the City of Leicester.
  • City Boundary – this presents Leicester City Council’s administrative boundary.
  • County Districts – this presents the administrative boundaries for the district and borough councils within Leicestershire.

How to obtain copies of the datasets

You can download a copy of:

If you would like a copy of any other drainage dataset presented in the flood risk map, you must put your request in writing to: [email protected] with your name, organisation and the reason for your request. This will then be considered by a member of the Flooding and Drainage team and the data shared if it is determined a reasonable request.

We have created a Web Feature Service (WFS) for our critical drainage areas, surface water flooding hotspots and Ordinary Watercourse Flood Extents (OWFE). These have been developed as part of our Surface Water Management Plan (2012) and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (2022). These layers are accessible through WFS by using https://geoserver.leicester.gov.uk/geoserver/SFRA/ows in your GIS Client of choice (such as ESRI Arc GIS, Map Info, QGIS).

Useful information

You can view the Environment Agency’s National Flood Zones and Surface Water Flood Risk using the following links: