Wickham Market: Storm Babet Information Page



Source: Local Landowner


The Environment Agency has created this page to inform interested parties about the actions taken and planned in Wickham Market since Storm Babet in October 2023.



Flood Investigation Report

Led by Suffolk County Council with support from the Environment Agency and other Risk Management Authorities the final report can be found here(External link)


While the flood investigation reports were being developed the Environment Agency have worked on a number of actions:


Flood Warning Service

During the summer 2024, the flood warning area was expanded to include all properties affected by the October 2023 floods. The revised warning area went live in November 2024.

Improved live river level information is available on the Check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk(External link), using data from our gauge at Brandeston.

We are investigating options to better understand if further improvements can be made to the timeliness and accuracy of the flood warnings in Wickham Market, for example if the installation of additional telemetry (river gauges) would be beneficial. The initial findings from these investigations will be available in the summer.


Watercourse Maintenance

The Environment Agency has permissive powers to carry out maintenance, improvement, or construction work on Main Rivers and may choose to use these powers if doing so is a cost-effective way to manage flood risk and protect the environment. As these powers are permissive, the Environment Agency is not required to carry out either maintenance or new works on Main Rivers and does so only in the above circumstance.

Ongoing discussions involve recommended works to de-silt the River Deben upstream and downstream of the B1078 road bridge. This requires collaboration with Suffolk County Council Highways to remove sediment under the bridge as well. Consultants are conducting hydraulic modelling to better understand the impact of silt and vegetation on flood risk in the village and to explore potential improvements in the maintenance regime. Additional topographic survey has been collected to inform this work and community input has been obtained to help inform the scenarios to be modelled.


Capital Projects

While we can't prevent floods, we can often lessen their impacts. In Wickham Market, the Environment Agency is exploring ways to reduce flood risks to people and property. This includes analysing the frequency of Storm Babet in Suffolk and updating the River Deben flood risk model by the financial year 2027/2028, subject to funding.

We are exploring techniques to identify high-level concepts of flood risk management options in advance of the revised modelling, using available data. The will help determine what options could be technically feasible, affordable and the viability of government funding for flood mitigation.

Community input will be vital in reviewing the list of potential options.

Community Engagement

Since Storm Babet, the following engagement activities have been undertaken:

  • EA community Information Officers visited Wickham Market to talk to residents on, 27 October 2023, 12 January and 8 February 2024.
  • 22 December 2023: An information letter sent to the community updating on what happened, the actions taken since Storm Babet and next steps. A copy can be found under Related Documents.
  • Tuesday 11 June 2024: Supported at the Parish Council’s flood investigation report meeting.
  • September 2024: An information letter has been sent out to riparian owners, raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities.


Note: Riparian Ownership Guidance

A Riparian Owner is somebody who has a watercourse running beneath, through or on the border of their land. This might be a river, stream, ditch or buried watercourse.

If you believe you are a riparian owner and would like more information, see the PDF under Related Documents.

Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, a Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) is required for works in, under, and over a main river, or within 8m of a main river. A FRAP is also required for any works that are designed to contain or divert flood water, including flood walls and flood gates/barriers, whatever the distance from the river. See The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016(External link) for details on what counts as a Flood Risk Activity.

Details of FRAP requirements can be found at Flood risk activities: environmental permits - GOV.UK(External link), including when a permit is required and whether it could come under an exclusion, an exemption, a standard rules permit or a bespoke permit.

Some minor works can be undertaken without a permit, such as vegetation removal by hand, providing the works do not destabilise the riverbanks, and tree roots are left in place. Desilting the river requires a permit, but is covered by an exemption in certain situations (see FRA24, FRA23, FRA22 at FRAP Exemptions(External link)) which is free, quick and simple to register online. There is also an exemption for new flood defences, including flood barriers and flood gates in boundary walls, again this applies in limited circumstances. Further information can be found at FRA26 Exemption(External link).

If the requirements of the FRAP Exemptions cannot be met, then a Bespoke Permit would need to be applied for, further details can be found at Bespoke Permit(External link). The permit application would need to demonstrate that the works would not adversely affect flood risk elsewhere or cause environmental harm.

Sharing Expertise

The Environment Agency has been working closely with Suffolk County Council to collate information, much of it collected by the EA in the aftermath of the floods, to help complete the Section 19 flood investigation report.




Source: Local Landowner


The Environment Agency has created this page to inform interested parties about the actions taken and planned in Wickham Market since Storm Babet in October 2023.



Flood Investigation Report

Led by Suffolk County Council with support from the Environment Agency and other Risk Management Authorities the final report can be found here(External link)


While the flood investigation reports were being developed the Environment Agency have worked on a number of actions:


Flood Warning Service

During the summer 2024, the flood warning area was expanded to include all properties affected by the October 2023 floods. The revised warning area went live in November 2024.

Improved live river level information is available on the Check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk(External link), using data from our gauge at Brandeston.

We are investigating options to better understand if further improvements can be made to the timeliness and accuracy of the flood warnings in Wickham Market, for example if the installation of additional telemetry (river gauges) would be beneficial. The initial findings from these investigations will be available in the summer.


Watercourse Maintenance

The Environment Agency has permissive powers to carry out maintenance, improvement, or construction work on Main Rivers and may choose to use these powers if doing so is a cost-effective way to manage flood risk and protect the environment. As these powers are permissive, the Environment Agency is not required to carry out either maintenance or new works on Main Rivers and does so only in the above circumstance.

Ongoing discussions involve recommended works to de-silt the River Deben upstream and downstream of the B1078 road bridge. This requires collaboration with Suffolk County Council Highways to remove sediment under the bridge as well. Consultants are conducting hydraulic modelling to better understand the impact of silt and vegetation on flood risk in the village and to explore potential improvements in the maintenance regime. Additional topographic survey has been collected to inform this work and community input has been obtained to help inform the scenarios to be modelled.


Capital Projects

While we can't prevent floods, we can often lessen their impacts. In Wickham Market, the Environment Agency is exploring ways to reduce flood risks to people and property. This includes analysing the frequency of Storm Babet in Suffolk and updating the River Deben flood risk model by the financial year 2027/2028, subject to funding.

We are exploring techniques to identify high-level concepts of flood risk management options in advance of the revised modelling, using available data. The will help determine what options could be technically feasible, affordable and the viability of government funding for flood mitigation.

Community input will be vital in reviewing the list of potential options.

Community Engagement

Since Storm Babet, the following engagement activities have been undertaken:

  • EA community Information Officers visited Wickham Market to talk to residents on, 27 October 2023, 12 January and 8 February 2024.
  • 22 December 2023: An information letter sent to the community updating on what happened, the actions taken since Storm Babet and next steps. A copy can be found under Related Documents.
  • Tuesday 11 June 2024: Supported at the Parish Council’s flood investigation report meeting.
  • September 2024: An information letter has been sent out to riparian owners, raising awareness of the rights and responsibilities.


Note: Riparian Ownership Guidance

A Riparian Owner is somebody who has a watercourse running beneath, through or on the border of their land. This might be a river, stream, ditch or buried watercourse.

If you believe you are a riparian owner and would like more information, see the PDF under Related Documents.

Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, a Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) is required for works in, under, and over a main river, or within 8m of a main river. A FRAP is also required for any works that are designed to contain or divert flood water, including flood walls and flood gates/barriers, whatever the distance from the river. See The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016(External link) for details on what counts as a Flood Risk Activity.

Details of FRAP requirements can be found at Flood risk activities: environmental permits - GOV.UK(External link), including when a permit is required and whether it could come under an exclusion, an exemption, a standard rules permit or a bespoke permit.

Some minor works can be undertaken without a permit, such as vegetation removal by hand, providing the works do not destabilise the riverbanks, and tree roots are left in place. Desilting the river requires a permit, but is covered by an exemption in certain situations (see FRA24, FRA23, FRA22 at FRAP Exemptions(External link)) which is free, quick and simple to register online. There is also an exemption for new flood defences, including flood barriers and flood gates in boundary walls, again this applies in limited circumstances. Further information can be found at FRA26 Exemption(External link).

If the requirements of the FRAP Exemptions cannot be met, then a Bespoke Permit would need to be applied for, further details can be found at Bespoke Permit(External link). The permit application would need to demonstrate that the works would not adversely affect flood risk elsewhere or cause environmental harm.

Sharing Expertise

The Environment Agency has been working closely with Suffolk County Council to collate information, much of it collected by the EA in the aftermath of the floods, to help complete the Section 19 flood investigation report.


Page last updated: 26 Mar 2025, 06:35 PM