What is a PFRA?

The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) report for Wokingham Borough Council has been produced in response to the Flood Risk Regulations (2009), which is legislation introduced alongside the Flood and Water Management Act (2010) to understand and improve flood risk management. The preparation of a PFRA is just one of several responsibilities of Lead Local Flood Authority's (LLFAs) under the new legislation.

The aim of the PFRA is to provide an assessment of local flood risk across Wokingham Borough, taking into account past floods and potential consequences of future floods. It includes flood risk from surface water runoff, groundwater and ordinary watercourses (including lakes and ponds). The PFRA does not address flooding from designated Main Rivers unless there are interactions with local sources of risk. 

The PFRA report has been prepared, in accordance with the Environment Agency’s PFRA Final Guidance document (December 2010) and updated appendices (March 2011)

What is in the PFRA

The PFRA consists of a report, associated spreadsheets (Preliminary Assessment Report spreadsheet and PFRA Checklist) and maps.  The spreadsheets are designed by the Environment Agency. 

The PFRA has been compiled using information from a number of sources.  These include Wokingham Borough Council, the Environment Agency, Thames Water, local Parish and Town Councils and Residents Associations.

Potential future flooding and its consequences are considered, mainly based on surface water flood risk using a methodology and flood risk indicators set out by the Environment Agency. Whilst Wokingham Borough has suffered flood events which were locally significant, this analysis indicates that there are no Indicative Flood Risk Areas in Wokingham Borough, as defined by the national threshold of 30,000 people at risk of surface water flooding and no proposed Flood Risk Areas as defined within the guidelines are recommended.

As a LLFA, the Council was required to submit our PFRA to the Environment Agency for approval by 22 June 2011.

The Flood Risk Regulations set out a rolling programme based on a 6 year cycle. The PFRA will need to be updated and resubmitted in 2017.

How to read the PFRA

Due to the size of the PFRA, the text and figures within the document have been attached separately for ease of viewing.