CM1 flood risk: Chelmsford
No Zone 2 or 3 record returned from this dataset
The historical Planning Data dataset returned no matching Zone 2 or 3 record at the representative point for Chelmsford (CM1). This does not establish a current Zone 1 result or a safe property. Check the current Environment Agency map; other flood mechanisms and nearby streets can differ.
Flood zone band
These are planning-zone definitions. Only a returned Zone 2 or 3 match is highlighted. Planning Data lists new data last found on 24 August 2023 (checked 5 September 2026); confirm the current position on the Environment Agency map.
Below a 1-in-1,000 annual chance from rivers/sea.
1-in-100 to 1-in-1,000 annual chance from rivers.
1-in-100 or greater from rivers; 1-in-200 from the sea.
Recorded flood history nearby
The Environment Agency has 6 recorded flood outlines within ~250 m of the representative point for CM1:
- 2013 Flood Outline5 Dec 2013 – 6 Dec 2013 · tidal
- 2009 Flood Outline9 Jan 2009 – 15 Jun 2009 · fluvial
- 1968 September Flood Outline12 Jan 1968 – 15 Jan 1968 · fluvial
- 1958 Flood Outline1 Jun 1958 – 30 Sept 1958 · tidal
- 1953 Coast Flood Outline Essex31 Jan 1953 – 1 Feb 1953 · tidal
- 1947 Flood Outline13 Feb 1947 · fluvial
Ask the seller to confirm the property's flood history on the TA6 Property Information Form.
Climate-change river-flow uplift
Management catchment: Combined Essex (Anglian). Projected % uplift to peak river flow vs the 1961–1990 baseline (river flooding only):
| Epoch | Central (50%) | Higher central (70%) | Upper end (95%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | +7% | +13% | +27% |
| 2050s | +8% | +16% | +37% |
| 2080s | +25% | +38% | +72% |
River (fluvial) flooding only — says nothing about surface-water or tidal change.
What this means for buyers and insurance
Flood zones are mapped at street level — an outcode is too coarse to decide on a single property. A home a few metres from a Zone 3 boundary can be Zone 1, and vice versa. Treat this page as the area context, then check the exact address.
Ask the lender which searches are needed and obtain an insurance quote for the exact property. Flood Re provides reinsurance for eligible risks; the insurer sets the customer's premium, excess and terms. Ask the seller about previous flooding and have your conveyancer follow up the answers and supporting documents. How Flood Re works.
Check a specific CM1 address
This page uses one representative point for CM1. Our free guide explains the available screening and its limits. Complete (£24.99) combines available property records into a human-checked report; postcode and area data cannot establish this building's full flood history or an insurance decision.
Try or search any UK postcode
Frequently asked questions
Is CM1 in a flood zone?
The historical Planning Data dataset returned no matching Zone 2 or 3 record at the representative point for Chelmsford (CM1). This does not establish a current Zone 1 result or a safe property. Check the current Environment Agency map; other flood mechanisms and nearby streets can differ.
What do the flood zones mean for buying a house?
Flood Zone 1 is low risk (below a 1-in-1,000 annual chance of river flooding). Zone 2 is medium (1-in-100 to 1-in-1,000). Zone 3 is high (1-in-100 or greater from rivers, or 1-in-200 from the sea). A home in Zone 2 or 3 can be harder to insure and mortgage, and you should ask the seller about flood history on the TA6 Property Information Form.
Does a flood zone affect insurance and mortgages?
A planning zone does not determine the premium, lender decision or Flood Re eligibility. Flood Re is a reinsurance scheme; insurers set the customer's prices and terms. Ask the lender and obtain a quote for the exact property, checking any scheme eligibility with the insurer.
How do I check flood risk for a specific CM1 address?
Start with the Environment Agency long-term flood service and Flood Map for Planning, and ask separately about previous flooding and insurance terms. Our free tool explains postcode screening; Complete (£24.99) brings available records into a human-checked report with source and location limits. It cannot establish this building's full flood history or insurance terms.
Sources
- Long-term flood risk check — Environment Agency / GOV.UK
- Flood Map for Planning (flood-risk-zone) — planning.data.gov.uk
- Outcode geocoding — postcodes.io
Flood data © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2026 (OGL v3.0). Flood Re eligibility based on floodre.co.uk criteria — indicative only; insurers make final decisions.