East Cambridgeshire District Council - Water Cycle Study Update and Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

East Cambridgeshire District Council wishes to appoint a suitably qualified professional partner to undertake an update to the water and flood risk related evidence base for East Cambridgeshire’s Local Plan. The Council is inviting quotations from potential suppliers to fulfil the contract which will involve the preparation of two key evidence base documents. These are:

• Water Cycle Study Update; and

• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1 (with the scope of the study increasing to Level 2 assessment, where required).

Assignment Part 1: Purpose of Water Cycle Study Update

The aim of the water cycle study update is to ensure that water infrastructure can be managed sustainably alongside the expected growth of East Cambridgeshire and will not ultimately constrain the new Local Plan. It is expected that the professional partner will look at:

• Water resources and supply systems;

• Water quality and Water Framework Directive status;

• Foul water sewerage and treatment provision including foul network capacity;

• Surface water drainage; and

• Flood risk management/mitigation (linking where appropriate to part 2).

Assignment Part 2: Purpose of Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

The Council requires a new Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) principally to inform the preparation of the new Local Plan. The new SFRA should be based on the valuable information presented in earlier iterations of the SFRA and the latest information available on flood zones, areas of flood risk and climate change predictions. The SFRA Level 1 will:

• Provide mapping of flood zones, including the functional floodplain; and

• Enable the application of the Sequential Test and Exception Test.

A SFRA Level 1 is essential. However, whether the Council requires a Level 2 assessment will depend on the findings of the level 1 assessment.