New map shows parts of Flintshire and Wrexham most at risk from flooding – LeaderLive

PARTS of Wrexham and Flintshire will be under further scrutiny for future planning applications after Natural Resources Wales published a map showing the areas most at risk of flooding and coastal erosion.

The map shows that large parts of Flintshire are at risk of flooding by the sea. The green marks this area out.

They include communities along the Dee Estuary and river - Talacre, Mostyn, Ffynnongroyw, Llannerch-y-Mr, Greenfield, Bagillt, Flint, Connah's Quay, Shotton, Queensferry, Pentre, Sandycroft, Garden City, Sealand. It also covers part of Broughton, including some of the Airbus complex, Bretton and Saltney.

In Wrexham, areas near the River Dee such as Trevalyn Meadows are also covered by the green area warning.

The North Wales coastline and areas along the Dee Estuary such as Mostyn, Greenfield, Bagillt and Flint are also at risk of coastal erosion, which is visible on the map by a red line.

Dark blue shows the flood risk for rivers in Zone 3 and light blue for Zone 2 (Zone 3 is a higher risk than Zone 2). Large areas at risk here are numerous parts in the Gronant and Talacre area, Ffynnongroyw, Llannerch-y-Mr, Greenfield and Greenfield Dock, Flint, Oakenholt, Connah's Quay, Shotton, the Queensferry, Pentre, Sandycroft and Mancot area, Bretton and Saltney.

Parts of communities along the River Alyn, including Rhydymwyn, Mold, Llong, Padeswood, Pontblyddyn, Caergwrle, Hope, Abermorddu and Cefnybedd, are also at risk according to the map.

Areas of Wrexham town are also at flood risk from rivers, including parts of Mount Street, Rivulet Road, Salop Road, and Foundry Road.

As are areas along the River Gwenfro in Caia Park.

Much of Bangor on Dee and parts of land around Overton, Erbistock, Worthenbury, Holt and Fardon, Rossett and Trevalyn, are also marked in dark blue.

Along the River Dee, parts of Llangollen and Froncysyllte are in the at risk area on the map.

Purple areas are places at risk of flooding from small watercourses at level 3 and pink areas cover level 2. These include areas of Gronant, Ffynnongroyw, Greenfield, Holywell, Bagillt, Flint, Connah's Quay, Shotton, Queensferry, Pentre, Mancot, Deeside Industrial Park, Broughton and Bretton, Kinnerton, Mold, Buckley, and Padeswood.

In Wrexham, areas at risk from small watercourse flooding include many small areas within the town centre, as well as parts of Llay, Gresford, Brymbo, and rural areas.

A large part of Deeside, stretching from Saltney to Golftyn, comes under a defence zone called TAN15 Defended Zones, which is highlighted on the map by the black box with diagonal lines inside. This shows that the area has strong defences from flood risks from the sea.

Another defence zone covering coastal towns Rhyl and Prestatyn also covers Gronant and Talacre in Flintshire.

There are smaller zones covering parts of Mold, Bangor on Dee, and alongside the A483 in Wrexham.

What this means

The publication of the map means that any future development in Wales has to take into account the flooding and coastal erosion risk caused by climate change.

Developers will have to work with the map under the Technical Advice Note 15 (TAN 15) which will inform plans for local development and decisions on planning applications in the areas at risk of flooding and coastal erosion.

Julie James, Welsh Government climate change minister, said: Flood risk and coastal erosion in Wales is increasing as a result of climate change.

Serious flooding events are becoming more frequent and some areas currently at little risk will become vulnerable to flooding as out climate continues to change.

As the National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales recognises, the planning system can help communities be more resilient to the effects of climate change by locating development in areas away from risk of flooding.

Improved knowledge of the places which will be at risk in the future can help keep people safe, by preventing the damage and disruption to homes, workplaces and infrastructure that flooding can cause.

New developments of homes, emergency services, schools and hospitals must not be located in areas of high flood risk without strong flood defences, says the new TAN 15 guidelines.

Welsh Ministers will be notified if local planning authorities are planning to approve a scheme against this advice and will be able to directly make a decision on the application.

How will the map work?

The flood map for planning shows four types of flood zone, which each have specific advice for proposed developments.

They are based on current risk levels with allowances for climate change. Allowing for planning decisions to take account of the expected impact of climate change on flood risk in the future.

The map is published by Natural Resources Wales and will be updated in May and November each year.

There are acceptability tests for development in areas of low risk and areas protected by strong flood defences, and for the less vulnerable developments in areas at high risk of flooding.

The tests include providing justification for the location, being on brownfield land and being resilient in the event of a flood.

The new TAN 15 and the map will come into force on Wednesday, December 1 but have been published today to allow planning authorities and developers to prepare. After December 1, all planning applications will be assessed against these.

All local development plans under review and have not reached the formal examination stage must use the advice and map after December 1.

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New map shows parts of Flintshire and Wrexham most at risk from flooding - LeaderLive