We have prepared an SFRA explanatory note which explains the relevant SFRA documents and their status across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and how these should be used to inform planning decisions and planning policy. Pending on-going updates of the SFRA level 1, it provides important guidance on how the SFRA data/mapping should be used when considering the sequential test, exception test and functional flood plain.
pdf , 240.87 KB
BCP Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment
The BCP Level 1 SFRA 2024 (the full report including links to the interactive mapping) was published in June 2024 and covers the whole of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It supersedes the 3 separate legacy authority areas’ SFRA Level 1 reports.
Since publication of the BCP SFRA Level 1 in 2024, there have already been changes to national guidance; new national flood risk mapping released; recent case law and planning appeals; which mean that the SFRA Level 1 will need to be updated. However, pending that update, the key changes, and the implications for using the SFRAs are set out in the Explanatory Note.
pdf , 4.9 MB
Level 2 SFRAs
In accordance with national guidance, Level 2 SFRAs are required for areas where it is anticipated that significant development proposals will come forward in areas of flood risk. Therefore, historically SFRA Level 2s have been produced for Christchurch and for Poole, and continue to be required.
A level 2 SFRA is not needed for Bournemouth as Bournemouth does not have the same level of tidal and fluvial flood risk as Christchurch and Poole.
Poole SFRA Level 2
We are currently preparing a new Poole SFRA Level 2 which we aim to publish later in 2025 or early 2026.
In the meantime, the extant Poole SFRA Level 2 (part 2 of the published Level 1 and 2 report 2017) should be used in conjunction with the BCP SFRA Level 1, 2024 (see Explanatory Note as parts of the Poole SFRA Level 2, 2017 are superseded by the BCP SFRA Level 1).
pdf , 4.34 MB
The Poole SFRA 2017 mapping is available on our interactive map.
Christchurch SFRA Level 2
Pending the planned update of the Christchurch SFRA Level 2 (2019), the extant Christchurch SFRA Level 2, 2019 should be used in conjunction with the BCP SFRA level 1, 2024 (see Explanatory Note as parts of the Christchurch SFRA Level 2, 2019 are superseded by the BCP SFRA Level 1).
pdf , 18.26 MB
The Christchurch SFRA 2019 mapping is available on our interactive map.