Flood Risk Assessment (FRA)

As climate change accelerates, flood risk is now a major concern for developers, investors, and communities—not just in the UK, but across the Middle East and Africa. At ME Consulting Engineers (MECE), we offer comprehensive Flood Risk Assessments that ensure full compliance with local planning policies, environmental standards, and development regulations.

Whether you’re planning a new development, renovating existing properties, or acquiring land, we provide site-specific, professional flood risk assessments to support successful and sustainable project delivery.

Why Flood Risk Assessment Is Critical

In the UK, it is mandatory to carry out an FRA for most planning applications under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In flood-sensitive areas globally—including arid regions with flash flood potential—authorities increasingly require robust risk mitigation strategies to approve development.

MECE helps you:

  • Avoid costly delays or refusals during the planning process
  • Satisfy insurer, investor, and regulatory expectations
  • Safeguard your development from future flood events
  • Incorporate Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and best practices in flood resilience

Expertise Across Regions

United Kingdom

We deliver FRAs compliant with:

  • NPPF and PPG
  • Environment Agency (EA) flood zones (Zone 1, 2, 3a, 3b)
  • Sequential and exception tests
  • SuDS and surface water drainage assessments
  • LLFA (Lead Local Flood Authority) consultation
  • Our reports comply with BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes, and Building Regulations (Part H).

UAE & Qatar

We provide flood and drainage impact assessments compliant with:

  • Dubai Municipality flood resilience guidelines
  • Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS) and Ashghal requirements
  • Flash flood risk mapping and wadi assessment
  • Integration with deep drainage and pumping solutions
  • Infrastructure flood protection and overflow discharge planning

Africa

Across Africa, MECE offers:

  • Risk mapping in flood-prone or low-lying areas
  • SuDS-based drainage planning in peri-urban developments
  • Community-level resilience and adaptation strategies
  • Stakeholder engagement with local authorities and utilities
  • Support for international donor or NGO-funded infrastructure

Our Flood Risk Services Include:

  • Flood Zone Classification & Mapping
  • Surface Water & Fluvial Flood Modelling
  • Drainage Impact Assessments (DIA)
  • Flood Compensation Volume Calculations
  • Sequential & Exception Testing (UK-specific)
  • Catchment Analysis & Runoff Management
  • Flood Emergency & Response Planning
  • SuDS & Foul Drainage Integration

Design Capabilities

Our multidisciplinary team offers:

  • Below-ground drainage and SuDS design

  • Drainage strategy preparation

  • Highway and infrastructure drainage (S38, S278)

  • Section 104/185 sewer adoption and diversion

  • EIA flood chapters and regulatory liaison

  • Modelling software expertise: InfoDrainage, TUFLOW, HEC-RAS, SewerGEMS, and InfoWorks ICM

Typical Deliverables

  • Flood Risk Assessment reports for planning
  • Drainage Impact Assessments (DIA)
  • Site-specific runoff management plans
  • Flood mitigation and resilience design
  • 2D hydraulic modelling and mapping
  • Feasibility and pre-acquisition flood screening

Why Choose MECE?

  • Decades of experience in flood risk & drainage consultancy
  • Trusted by developers, planners, architects, and authorities
  • Direct engagement with the Environment Agency (UK), Dubai Municipality, Ashghal, and African water boards
  • Flexible, cost-effective service tailored to each region
  • Successful track record of planning approvals on complex sites