S19 Flood Investigations
For both developers and local communities, surface water and fluvial flooding are a concern. Flood risk threatens businesses, commercial viability, critical infrastructure and residential properties, especially in areas under pressure from urban expansion and extreme weather events.
In England and Wales, the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) plays an essential role in flood response, providing section 19 reports whenever a reported flooding incident causes damage or disruption and meets certain criteria outlined in legislation, such as internal property flooding or damage to assets managed by highways authorities.
While the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 insists that LLFAs investigate significant flood incidents, they often rely on consultants to perform the technical investigation and provide supporting analysis.
Our team of flood risk consultants provides independent and site-specific support to developers, insurers and local authorities, offering insight into relevant flood risk management, identifying infrastructure failures, presenting evidence for planning and legal processes, and influencing outcomes during appeals or mitigation planning.
What is a Section 19 Flood Investigation?
A section 19 flood investigation provides an opportunity for a flood risk consultant to collect data, liaise with relevant risk management authorities (RMAs), and carry out in-depth analysis with hydraulic modelling to better understand flood dynamics. The outcomes then contribute to the production of section 19 reports, supporting planning, insurance matters and long-term mitigation strategies.
The Flood and Water Management Act requires LLFAs to investigate flood incidents that significantly affect people, property or infrastructure. The LLFA will investigate incidents to identify the causes of flood events, assess the performance of risk management functions, and confirm the roles of organisations such as the Environment Agency (EA) and other RMAs.
Although the LLFA is responsible for overseeing the investigation, a consultant from our team can lead the technical aspects, conduct a parallel assessment, and support compliance with planning conditions, development requirements and broader regulatory obligations.
Criteria for an S19
A section 19 investigation conducted by our team will be needed whenever the following criteria are met, such as:
- Damage to Assets Owned or Maintained by Highways Authorities
- Disruption to Critical Infrastructure or the Transport Network
- One or More Cases of Internal Flooding to Residential Properties
Even a cluster of internally flooded homes within a small catchment area may qualify as a significant flood incident in the eyes of LLFAs, leading to the need for an S19 investigation.
Compliance with Organisations and Regulators
Over the course of an S19 investigation, it is important that the process seeks to establish responsible parties, such as the EA, relevant flood risk management authorities, water companies and the Met Office.
By working in collaboration with them, the developer will hold accountability, enhance planning outcomes, and positively influence mitigation efforts or funding priorities.
Section 19 Investigation Process
Steps in the Investigation
Our S19 investigative process includes:
- Defining the Scope of the Reported Flooding Incident
- Gathering Evidence of Internal Property or Infrastructure Flooding
- Reviewing Rainfall and River Flow Data from the Met Office and Environment Agency
- Conducting Site Inspections and Stakeholder Interviews
- Performing Hydraulic Modelling Where Required
- Engaging with Relevant RMAs and Identifying Gaps in Response or Infrastructure Performance
Section 19 Flood Investigation Report
After the investigation, we produce reports that help to meet the requirements set out in legislation.
Section 19 reports detail the sequence of events, the actions of relevant risk management authorities, and the recommended reduction or alleviation options to prevent the same actions from happening again in the future.
With our input on an S19 report, you can receive support with future planning applications, infrastructure upgrades and public consultations.
Outcome from an S19
As well as meeting the conditions of relevant bodies, flood investigations additionally support legal and policy-based decision-making around drainage and flood response.
Instead of just allocating legal liability, section 19 reports provide in-depth analysis that developers, insurers and asset owners can use when proposing to exercise development rights or appeal planning decisions.
Request a Quote from Our Team
Stepping in to help developers with interpreting section 19 reports, our team has prepared supplementary analysis and impartial investigations for areas with a previous flood event or a history of flooding issues.
For a free quote based on your development site and plans, reach out to our team over email, phone or by completing a quote form online. We will then speak to you about the likely cost of an inspection and tell you everything you need to know about how our services work.
