Policy paper

Great Ouse: Catchment flood management plan

An overview of the flood risk across the river catchment and recommended ways of managing the risk now and over the next 50 to 100 years.

Applies to England

Documents

Great Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan: Summary report

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Great Ouse Catchment Flood Management Plan: Post adoption statement

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The catchment of the Great Ouse is located in the east of England. The River Great Ouse starts in Northamptonshire near Brackley and passes through several towns before it crosses the Fens and flows into The Wash downstream of King’s Lynn. Other significant rivers in the catchment include the:

  • Tove (Towcester)
  • Ouzel (south of Milton Keynes)
  • Cam (Cambridge)
  • Ivel (Biggleswade)
  • Lark (Bury St Edmunds/Mildenhall)
  • Little Ouse (Thetford)
  • Wissey (south and east of Downham Market)

Catchment flood management plans (CFMPs) consider all types of inland flooding, from rivers, ground water, surface water and tidal flooding, but not flooding directly from the sea, (coastal flooding), which is covered in ‘shoreline management plans’. They also take into account the likely impacts of climate change, the effects of how we use and manage the land, and how areas could be developed to meet our present day needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

CFMPs will be used to help the Environment Agency and partners to plan and agree the most effective way to manage flood risk in the future.

The ‘post adoption statement’ outlines how the environment has been taken into account during the development of the plan and how consultations have influenced final plan.

To request a full copy of a CFMP email the Environment Agency at enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or call them on 0370 8506506.

Updates to this page

Published 1 December 2009

Sign up for emails or print this page