Flood risk across North Yorkshire
The rivers draining the Dales and the North York Moors meet in the Vale of York, so river flooding is the headline risk. York floods regularly where the Ouse and Foss meet, and on Boxing Day 2015 the Foss Barrier had to be raised, flooding hundreds of homes. Malton and Norton on the Derwent, and towns on the Swale and Ure, also have a history of flooding.
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 North Yorkshire Council and landowners.
River Ouse – York, Selby and the Vale of York
River Foss – Joins the Ouse in York
River Derwent – Malton, Norton and Stamford Bridge
River Swale – Richmond, Catterick and Topcliffe
River Ure – Wensleydale, Ripon and Boroughbridge
River Nidd – Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough
Who manages flood risk here
North Yorkshire Council and City of York 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. The same councils also decide planning applications (or the national park authority, inside a national park) – 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.
