There is a high level of flood risk in Salisbury which is expected to increase due to climate change.
Communities up and downstream of Salisbury are at risk of flooding from the four rivers that converge in the city - the River Avon, River Wylye, River Bourne and River Nadder.
In addressing the flood risk, the scheme also takes advantage of the opportunity to improve the biodiversity and amenity value of the area and create a much more welcoming area for residents and visitors alike.
Flood risk
Within Salisbury a large proportion of properties are at high risk of flooding from the River Avon, which flows in from the north.
Salisbury Cathedral 1915
Fisherton Street 1915 
Water Lane 1915
The plan below highlights areas at risk of flooding in Salisbury. You can download a flood map for your postcode area by going to: https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/(External link). Areas highlighted as being in Flood Zone 3 are at high risk. In these areas the land is assessed as having a 1 in 100, or greater, annual probability of river flooding in any year (>1%). This risk is predicted to increase due to climate change.
The following figure shows the flood risk in the centre of Salisbury, with key locations marked.
Flood risk map for the centre of Salisbury. Click to view enlarged image.
Aerial photograph of Salisbury Cathedral and the surrounding area. Click to view enlarged image.
There are approximately 250 residential and 100 commercial properties in central Salisbury currently at risk of flooding in a 1 in 100 (1%) annual probability flood event. This could rise to 370 residential and 200 commercial properties based on future climate change scenarios.
Other parts of our infrastructure are at risk of flooding, such as the A36 and other key roads.
The most recent significant river flood event occurred in 2014, when 20 properties suffered from internal flooding. The general area was also significantly disrupted due to flooding extending into built-up areas.
Path flooded adjacent to Waitrose in 2014. Click to view enlarged image.
Churchill Way West underpass in 2014. Click to view enlarged
image.
Flooding near Blackwell Hatches in 2014. Click to view enlarged image.
This event highlighted that only should their be a small increase in flood levels, this would result in a significant increase in the number of properties flooded. We therefore proposed a scheme to better manage the flood risk to properties and infrastructure in the centre of Salisbury.
Developing the options
We worked in partnership with Wiltshire Council to investigate options for a scheme to reduce flood risk, whilst also meeting the objectives of their Central Area Framework and redevelopment proposals.
In deciding on the preferred option we followed national guidance on flood risk management appraisal. The appraisal (or assessment) process firstly involved identifying a list of options and then carefully assessing each of these against social, environmental, technical and economic criteria. At that time, we held a series of consultation events to inform the appraisal process.
The engagement and consultation journey
We consulted with a wide range of stakeholders within public bodies, environmental and volunteer groups, local organisations and the public, to gain feedback and valuable input when developing the scheme proposals.
We consulted with the public on the initial scheme proposals in April and December 2019, and again with a more detailed design in December 2020/January 2021. We received responses from 183 people in January 2021; more than two thirds of the respondents supported the proposals for the Maltings and Central Car Park area, and more than four fifths of respondents supported the proposals for the Ashley Road area. We have used feedback from consultation events to refine the proposed scheme - the 'You Said We Did' page provides more detail on this.
Images from previous consultation
Salisbury River Park Approved Scheme
The approved scheme will benefit two areas in the centre of Salisbury:
• Ashley Road Open Space and Fisherton Recreation Ground
• The Maltings and Central Car Park areas.
There are additional areas at risk of flooding within Salisbury that will not benefit from the scheme. Separate proposals may be promoted to benefit these areas in the future, where viable.
Click on the following link to read more in what is the approved scheme? section.
Planning Permission
Please click here to see our planning application and approval notice - Planning Application: PL/2021/03601 (wiltshire.gov.uk)
There is a high level of flood risk in Salisbury which is expected to increase due to climate change.
Communities up and downstream of Salisbury are at risk of flooding from the four rivers that converge in the city - the River Avon, River Wylye, River Bourne and River Nadder.
In addressing the flood risk, the scheme also takes advantage of the opportunity to improve the biodiversity and amenity value of the area and create a much more welcoming area for residents and visitors alike.
Flood risk
Within Salisbury a large proportion of properties are at high risk of flooding from the River Avon, which flows in from the north.
Salisbury Cathedral 1915
Fisherton Street 1915 Water Lane 1915
The plan below highlights areas at risk of flooding in Salisbury. You can download a flood map for your postcode area by going to: https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/(External link). Areas highlighted as being in Flood Zone 3 are at high risk. In these areas the land is assessed as having a 1 in 100, or greater, annual probability of river flooding in any year (>1%). This risk is predicted to increase due to climate change.
The following figure shows the flood risk in the centre of Salisbury, with key locations marked.
Flood risk map for the centre of Salisbury. Click to view enlarged image.
Aerial photograph of Salisbury Cathedral and the surrounding area. Click to view enlarged image.
There are approximately 250 residential and 100 commercial properties in central Salisbury currently at risk of flooding in a 1 in 100 (1%) annual probability flood event. This could rise to 370 residential and 200 commercial properties based on future climate change scenarios.
Other parts of our infrastructure are at risk of flooding, such as the A36 and other key roads.
The most recent significant river flood event occurred in 2014, when 20 properties suffered from internal flooding. The general area was also significantly disrupted due to flooding extending into built-up areas.
Path flooded adjacent to Waitrose in 2014. Click to view enlarged image.
Churchill Way West underpass in 2014. Click to view enlarged
image.
Flooding near Blackwell Hatches in 2014. Click to view enlarged image.
This event highlighted that only should their be a small increase in flood levels, this would result in a significant increase in the number of properties flooded. We therefore proposed a scheme to better manage the flood risk to properties and infrastructure in the centre of Salisbury.
Developing the options
We worked in partnership with Wiltshire Council to investigate options for a scheme to reduce flood risk, whilst also meeting the objectives of their Central Area Framework and redevelopment proposals.
In deciding on the preferred option we followed national guidance on flood risk management appraisal. The appraisal (or assessment) process firstly involved identifying a list of options and then carefully assessing each of these against social, environmental, technical and economic criteria. At that time, we held a series of consultation events to inform the appraisal process.
The engagement and consultation journey
We consulted with a wide range of stakeholders within public bodies, environmental and volunteer groups, local organisations and the public, to gain feedback and valuable input when developing the scheme proposals.
We consulted with the public on the initial scheme proposals in April and December 2019, and again with a more detailed design in December 2020/January 2021. We received responses from 183 people in January 2021; more than two thirds of the respondents supported the proposals for the Maltings and Central Car Park area, and more than four fifths of respondents supported the proposals for the Ashley Road area. We have used feedback from consultation events to refine the proposed scheme - the 'You Said We Did' page provides more detail on this.
Images from previous consultation
Salisbury River Park Approved Scheme
The approved scheme will benefit two areas in the centre of Salisbury:
• Ashley Road Open Space and Fisherton Recreation Ground
• The Maltings and Central Car Park areas.
There are additional areas at risk of flooding within Salisbury that will not benefit from the scheme. Separate proposals may be promoted to benefit these areas in the future, where viable.
Click on the following link to read more in what is the approved scheme? section.
Planning Permission
Please click here to see our planning application and approval notice - Planning Application: PL/2021/03601 (wiltshire.gov.uk)
