Flood risk across Lancashire
Lancashire faces flooding from fast-rising Pennine rivers, from the sea along the low-lying Fylde coast and Morecambe Bay, and from surface water in its towns. Storm Desmond in December 2015 flooded parts of Lancaster, including an electricity substation that cut power to much of the city, and Boxing Day 2015 brought further flooding to Whalley in the Ribble Valley.
Flood zones only show river and sea flooding, and they ignore flood defences. Surface water and reservoir risk aren’t part of the zones – check them on the Environment Agency’s long-term flood risk service, or get the full report, which covers every source.
Rivers that shape local flood risk
Main rivers are managed by the Environment Agency. Smaller watercourses and drainage are the responsibility of Lancashire County Council and landowners.
River Ribble – Ribchester, Preston and the Ribble estuary
River Lune – Lancaster and the Lune Valley
River Wyre – Garstang, Poulton and Fleetwood
River Calder – Burnley and Whalley
River Irwell – Rossendale towns such as Bacup and Rawtenstall
River Douglas – Wigan border and Croston
Who manages flood risk here
Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council are the Lead Local Flood Authorities, responsible for surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The Environment Agency manages main rivers and the sea, and issues flood warnings. Your district or borough council decides planning applications – and asks for a flood risk assessment in Flood Zones 2 and 3.
Getting a written answer for an address
The free check describes the area around your postcode. For a specific property, the full report checks your exact address against every flood dataset and gives you a dated PDF to share with your surveyor, conveyancer or insurer.
For planning decisions, your local council has the final say.
