Flood risk across South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is drained by the Don and its tributaries. In June 2007 the Don flooded parts of Sheffield and Rotherham, and Toll Bar near Doncaster was under water for weeks. In November 2019 the Don flooded Fishlake and other villages north of Doncaster, where much of the land is low-lying and relies on pumped drainage.
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 Barnsley Council and landowners.
River Don – Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Fishlake
River Sheaf – Central Sheffield
River Rother – Joins the Don in Rotherham
River Dearne – Barnsley and the Dearne Valley
River Went – The northern edge near Askern
Who manages flood risk here
Barnsley Council, City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Council and Sheffield City 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.
