Flood risk across Northumberland
Northumberland's rivers rise fast in the Cheviots and the North Pennines, so river flooding is the main risk in valley towns such as Morpeth, Rothbury and Hexham. Morpeth was badly flooded by the Wansbeck in September 2008, and a flood alleviation scheme with an upstream storage dam has been built since. Along the coast, low-lying land is also at risk from the sea.
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 Northumberland County Council and landowners.
River Tyne – Hexham, Corbridge and the Tyne Valley
River Wansbeck – Morpeth and Ashington
River Coquet – Rothbury, Warkworth and Amble
River Aln – Alnwick and Alnmouth
River Tweed – Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Scottish border
River Blyth – Bedlington and Blyth
Who manages flood risk here
Northumberland County Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority, responsible for surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. The Environment Agency manages main rivers and the sea, and issues flood warnings. The same council also decides 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.
