Local Flood Authority (LLFA) and therefore covers the whole borough. Flood risk from main rivers such as the Mersey, Goyt and Tame are still under the management of the Environment Agency (EA).

  1. Stockport is situated in the middle and lower catchments of the Rivers Tame and Goyt, which converge into the upper catchment of the River Mersey at Stockport Town Centre. Areas to the south and west of the borough are within the Micker Brook catchment which joins the River Mersey at Cheadle. Stockport is at risk from a variety of sources of flooding which are known to interact with each other. The main sources of flood risk include surface water, groundwater and fluvial flooding, the effects of which are expected to increase as a result of climate change.
  2. The canal network can also contribute to flood risk, however this risk is generally low because of their regulated, manmade nature. The main source of flooding from canals results from a breach of raised canal embankments or collapse of a canal reach above culverted sections of a watercourse. Provisions to protect the structural integrity of the canal network are set out at Policy ENV 10. Canals can also be an important resource to aid flood management and drainage.
  3. Stockport is located within a complex hydrological network that extends into surrounding districts and beyond. This means that the district cannot be viewed in isolation, as rainfall and activities in one place can have significant impacts on the water environment in other locations.
  4. Climate change is expected to significantly increase peak river flows and surface water run-off as a result of more intense rain events, potentially placing many more properties at risk in the future unless flood defences, drainage and run-off management are improved. A coordinated catchment wide approach to all types of flood risk will be required to address these challenges and minimise potential harm to people and property, including actions outside of Stockport.
  5. The Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) for Greater Manchester is a collaborative strategy developed by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), United Utilities, and the Environment Agency to manage the region's water resources holistically. It aims to maximise multifunctional blue-green infrastructure, restore natural function and water landscapes, protecting and valuing biodiversity and the water environment. The IWMP recognises that rainwater should be managed as a resource to be valued for the benefit of people and the environment through retaining it within the environment as close as possible to where it lands. Policies throughout the Local Plan, especially in the natural environment and climate resilient chapters, as well as our specific flood risk and drainage policies align with the aims of the IWMP and help to deliver against them through the planning process.
  6. Where required, a site-specific flood risk assessment should be carried out by (or on behalf of) a developer to assess all types of flood risk to and from a development site. This should be carried out at the earliest possible stage in any proposal and should establish: