Flood Risk Assessment in Limerick
Expert flood risk assessments for planning applications throughout County Limerick. From the Shannon corridor through Limerick City to the estuary and rural catchments, we've completed FRAs for residential, commercial, and agricultural developments across the county.
Get a Quote or call 087 417 3832Flood Risk Assessment for Limerick Planning Applications
If you're submitting a planning application to Limerick City and County Council and your site is in or near a flood zone, you'll need a Flood Risk Assessment that satisfies the requirements of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028 and the Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines.
Limerick has some of Ireland's most significant flood risk, dominated by the River Shannon - the country's longest river. The city itself sits at a critical point where the Shannon transitions from freshwater to tidal estuary, creating complex flood dynamics. Major flooding events in 2009, 2014, and 2015 highlighted the county's vulnerability, leading to significant flood relief schemes and heightened scrutiny of development in flood-prone areas.
- River Shannon corridor (Limerick City, Castleconnell, Montpelier)
- Shannon Estuary tidal flooding (Foynes, Askeaton, Pallaskenry)
- River Maigue catchment (Adare, Croom, Bruree)
- River Mulkear (Annacotty, Newport area)
- River Deel (Newcastle West, Rathkeale)
- Urban drainage in Limerick City suburbs
Shannon Flood Risk
The River Shannon presents unique challenges for flood risk assessment in Limerick. The tidal influence extends well upstream into the city, meaning sites can be affected by both fluvial (river) and tidal flooding - sometimes simultaneously. The extensive Shannon CFRAM study provides detailed flood mapping, but many sites require careful analysis of both the 1% AEP fluvial and 0.5% AEP tidal scenarios, plus their combined effects.
For Shannon-adjacent sites, we extract design flood levels from OPW modelling data and assess how proposed development levels compare against both fluvial and tidal design floods with appropriate climate change allowances.
What's Included
Every FRA we complete for Limerick sites includes:
Stage 1, 2 & 3 Assessments
Proper methodology using OPW flood mapping and modelling data. Where data is limited or outdated, we undertake bespoke hydraulic modelling (1D/2D HEC-RAS).
Tidal/Fluvial Analysis
For Shannon-influenced sites: combined assessment of river and tidal flood risk with appropriate joint probability analysis.
FFL Comparison
Your proposed finished floor levels compared against design flood levels plus freeboard.
Development Plan Compliance
Explicit demonstration of compliance with Limerick Development Plan flood risk policies.
Further Information Requests
Received an FI request from Limerick City and County Council asking for flood risk information? We regularly handle urgent FI responses for Limerick sites. Typical turnaround is 7 working days - often faster for straightforward sites.
Need an FRA for a Limerick Site?
Send us your site address and we'll provide a fixed-price quote, typically within 24 hours.
Get a Quote