What is an Environment Agency Flood Risk Activity Permit (EA FRAP)? and why do I need one?

What is an Environment Agency Flood Risk Activity Permit, (EA FRAP) and why do you need one?

In a nutshell, if you’re a riparian landowner (own a property adjacent to a watercourse) and the work you are planning to take place is within 8m of a watercourse, then typically you will need to apply for a permit. If the work you plan to undertake ticks one of the points below, then you’ll require an EA FRAP.

As a riparian landowner you have certain rights and requirements under UK law. There is a useful guide to refer to that the Environment Agency produces, which can be downloaded here.

It is important to note that one would be breaking the law if work is carried out without the correct permit in place. There are two types of permits to consider:

  1. Standard Rules Permit – This includes a set of fixed rules for common activities.
  2. Bespoke Permit – This covers all other flood risk activities which are not already covered by a standard rules permit. It is a project specific permit, providing in depth detail of the risks and planned activities.

The Environment Agency FRAP is only applicable if you live in England. Should you live elsewhere within the United Kingdom then you may need to contact the following:

Scotland – Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). SEPA is Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, protecting and improving Scotland’s environment.

Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is an Executive Agency within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Wales – Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are a consultation body under many environmental assessment regulations.

Cooks Marine Services specialise in all types of civil engineering work for inland waterways and inland marine environments.

If your project will involve any construction work near an inland watercourse and our services can be utilised, we can manage the entire EA FRAP process on behalf of our clients. 

The application for a permit is usually a four step process.

  1. Develop a management system to describe the method of work and what will be done to manage risk. This allowed for any possible environmental mitigation measures that need to be put in place.
  2. Gather supporting information which provides the Environment Agency with a sufficient level of detail on the proposed work activities, such as site surveys, if required. This may include:
    1. Production of photographic surveys.
    2. Undertaking ground investigation work.
    3. Undertaking a detailed on site survey to supply dimensions of the proposed design.
    4. Producing site plans, elevation and cross sectional drawings and such like.
  3. Complete the required forms in sufficient level of detail to allow the commencement of the review process and make a submission to the correct Environment Agency permitting team responsible for your catchment. The forms in this case will be:
    1. The Part A form, which provides details of the contractor undertaking the work, in this case Cooks Marine Services.
    2. The B10 form, this provides the Environment Agency detail about the proposed project.
    3. The F3 form, this provides details of the activities that are planned so the regulator can ensure the correct charges are being applied to pay for the permit. Charges do vary considerably and are not always calculated in a straight forward manner. The charges table can be found here:

The permit forms referenced above can be found here

  1. Pay the required fee for EA to review your application.

Works that will require a permit (unless exempt) are works;

  • Erecting any temporary or permanent structure in, over or under a main river, such as a culvert, outfall, weir, dam, pipe crossing, erosion protection, scaffolding or bridge.
  • Altering, repairing or maintaining any temporary or permanent structure in, over or under a main river, where the work could affect the flow of water in the river or affect any drainage work.
  • Building or altering any permanent or temporary structure designed to contain or divert flood waters from a main river.
  • Dredging, raising or removing any material from a main river, including project specific which are intending to improve flow in the river or use the materials removed.
  • Diverting or impounding the flow of water or changing the level of water in a main river.
  • Quarrying or excavation within 16 metres of any main river, flood defence (including a remote defence) or culvert.
  • Any activity within 8 metres of the bank of a main river, or 16 metres if it is a tidal main river.
  • Any activity within 8 metres of any flood defence structure or culvert on a main river, or 16 metres on a tidal river.
  • Any activity within 16 metres of a sea defence structure.
  • Activities carried out on the floodplain of a main river, more than 8 metres from the river bank, culvert or flood defence structure (or 16 metres if it is a tidal main river) if you do not have planning permission. Please note, you do not need permission to build agricultural hay stacks, straw stacks or manure clamps in these places.

An Environment Agency Floor Risk Activity Permit is separate to and in addition to any possible planning permission that may be required. Environmental permits should be applied for by an environmental advisor or competent person. Cooks Marine Services will act on behalf of clients in order to obtain the EA FRAP and represent them. Please note, we do not undertake planning applications, however we have worked with many architects and engineers on previous projects to help overcome any challenges faced from conservation and planning officers.

Once the permit is in place and it needs amending the applicant must demonstrate that a sufficient  risk assessment has been undertaken and that the changes will not adversely effect :

  • Flood risk
  • Impact on drainage
  • Effect of the environment

If your project is on an inland waterway and you require assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our contact form is found here.

The sheet piling reinforcement of the lake bank on the University's Whiteknights Campus was carried out safely, professionally and efficiently by Cooks Marine Services. Sam Cook and his team were diligent and thorough. The project was completed on time and to budget, a great job.

Greg Lowe, University of Reading

Cooks first started working with Henley Royal Regatta in 2007 when our existing supplier at the time was failing to perform. Since 2008 we have used Cooks to install and dismantle the annual Regatta course, a complex project with rigid deadlines that also requires delivery to very high standards. We enjoy a good working relationship and like their can do attitude and problem solving capabilities as well as the depth they bring in terms of both equipment and people.

Edward Warner, Head of Operations, Henley Royal Regatta

My professional experience of Cooks as a supplier date from 2012, since then I have engaged with Cooks to support our (Land & Water Services Ltd) operations delivering contracted works on the R.Thames on behalf of the Environment Agency. The work type and location has varied greatly from the recovery of sunken vessels, sheet piling to dredging. Over those 10 years we have come to value our relationship with Cooks, not just because of their inherent skills, knowledge, and experience, but because of the strong values and principles the team has displayed throughout our dealings.

Tom Cartmel, Contracts Manager, Land & Water Services Ltd

Through Cooks strong local knowledge of the area and technical expertise in the marine environment, they were able to offer support during tender stages, which proved invaluable on this contract. While on site, the team were professional, polite and had a ‘can do’ attitude, leading to a great working environment, allowing for the contract completion ahead of programme.

James North, Environment Agency Framework Manager, Breheny Civil Engineering

Cooks extremely helpful and came for a site visit, they were able to give a great insight and the perfect resolution. Throughout the whole process they kept us informed, the work started as schedule and was completed on time. The tasks of piling, de silting and bank reconstruction were carried out in an extremely confident and competent manner. The work was carried out in accordance with health and safety protocol by skilled staff. I would be more than happy to recommend Cooks to anyone who required river works of any type.

Matthew Styles-West, Estate Manager, Mill Court Estate

The customers are over the moon with their new landing stages, we look forward to working with you again.

Kim Clifford, General Manager, Hobbs of Henley

I would like to say to Sam and the rest of the crew a big thank you for the service you provided and delivering on our ask. The team demonstrated professionalism from start to finish, from the Safety/CDM brief to completion and demobilisation. A pleasure to partner work with such a proficient company.

John Dunston, Environment Agency

If you would like further information or a chance to talk to someone, please get in touch.

Contact Cooks Marine Services

Sign up to our newsletter

John Henry Arthur Cook worked for the Thames Conservancy from April 1946 onwards. He started his career as an Assistant Lock Keeper but quickly progressed onto working in the construction arm. From this he went onto being a Diving Linesman for a gentleman named Jim Douglas. John must have learnt a few tips from Jim as he went onto become a diver himself. This is where John found his true love as he stayed as a diver for the Thames Conservancy for the rest of his career, up until his retirement in 1987. Being a commercial diver wasn’t the best paid job, so John Cook would take on private work every weekend, undertaking work for private domestic clients. This would encompass constructing small bridges, undertaking riverbank repairs, dredging, installing jetties and pontoons. His son Iain was born 1958 and was one of five children.

 

From a very early age, Iain often accompanied his father John to work, back in the days when this was normal practice. As a young boy, Iain got to sit in excavators, cranes, tugs, and all manner of construction and marine equipment. Getting the opportunity to sit on the lap of the operators, watching first-hand how to operate heavy plant and machinery. Being a child in this environment meant that Iain got to soak up a lot of useful information on how marine construction works. From a very early age, Iain Cook was involved on site, driving dumpers and being hands on. Iain can remember being a child in the early 1960’s and being on site, undertaking riverbank repairs at the property of Sir Billy Wallace and Lady Ashcombe. Upon leaving school, Iain worked for a swimming pool company for 3 months. Then he had 2 years in the Chilterns tree felling.

 

Whilst at school Iain did an apprenticeship in bricklaying, so when the tree felling work stopped Iain went to work as a bricklayer. These were his Monday to Friday jobs, so all the time this work was being undertaken, Iain would be working every weekend with his father John Cook. They must have worked on hundreds of river and marine projects together. Working 7 days a week was a mindset that Iain grew up and he never knew any different and this has not stopped to this day. In the early 1970’s, Iain was 13 years old and recalls working on a project for a gentleman named Michael Elliott. His father John had a team of guys working on installing a bailey bridge at Michael’s property. Johns’ operators were being paid £1 an hour and Iain was on just 25 pence per hour in comparison. Iain remembers Michael Elliott turning around to his father John, who was in charge of the team saying that Iain should be paid the same rate as the rest of the men as he was working just as hard as they were. Quite an accolade for such a young lad, but this made Iain realise that the harder you worked, the more you got paid. It was that very job that set up his mind set that hard work pays off. His firm belief is that you can have anything you want in life if you’re prepared to work hard for it.

 

So, in 1979 Iain set himself up as self-employed, just as the building trade had collapsed during the economic crash. John advised Iain to get to work on a project in Wargrave, undertaking a riverbank repair. Following this Iain continued to work on river restoration projects and river related construction work. Over time Iain began to establish his own team of men and was starting to build a reputation for undertaking high quality river construction projects for private customers in the West Thames area. His first phone call to enquire about a new project under his own banner, was for the slipway installation at Hambleden Mill, that was circa 1979/1980. Iain stayed as self-employed status up until 2004 under the trading name of Iain J Cook Riverbank Piling up until 1982. Iain decided that was quite a mouthful, so shortened the name to just Cook Piling. It was this name change that found his reputation grow and through word of mouth the work enquiries kept coming in. Iain’s very first piece of machinery that he bought for himself was an old 3.5t chieftan excavator, purchased in 1979.

 

Iain’s first Boat house was a take down and rebuild in 1980 in Wargrave. Iain’s first piece of marine plant was set up in 1981, his very own works platform, this was the start of what is now Cooks Marine Services. In 1982 Iain worked on a project installing riverbank piles next Oakley Court. The Oakley Project was 1260ft of river steel sheet pile installation, costing the client at the time £10.50/ft. Cooks first barges were bought direct from the Environment Agency around 1982, for £50 each, bought as scrap metal. Iain went about undertaking a full refurbishment and restored them and turned them into a fully operational working barge. This followed his first major contract for marine works after Oakley Court, Pangbourne. Cooks first tug was a fibre glass one, bought in 1984 in Staines from a gentleman called Charlie Austin, the boats name was simply C G N A. The engine was ceased, and Iain managed to purchase it for very little money at the time. After some hard work, the engine was fully refurbished, and it was air cooled and hand wound. Iain remembers the awful heat that was produced from the boats engine, making the working conditions really challenging. The boat was dreadful to steer, often taking a route of its own along the river. Iain can remember nearly crashing this awful boat on several occasions, avoiding a near miss.

 

The first boat that Iain was really proud of was the ‘Captain Cook’, a steel tug, bought in 1986 from Janet Marine in Penton Hook. It was an unusual one-off build, so it is believed to be one of its kind. The first crane was a Jones 1500 bought in 1988, Iain remembers feeling like he was Sir Alfred McAlpine when that crane was delivered. But Iain’s dreams were soon shattered when he looked at the HIAB of his brand-new crane to find out that the dealer had fitted second hand controls and seat. Not what he expected from his largest investment at the time. Iain Cook was the first person to buy a HIAB on a barge, it was a HIAB 100 knuckle boom crane on a new barge. It was constructed to be able to fit into tight and awkward places on the river.

 

This barge went onto working directly for the EA on Marsh Lock, circa 1990. The project was run by Fergals, undertaking a full lock refurbishment. The client had asked John Fenn to be able to load and transport tarmac, but the tug was not capable to do this, and their tug ended going downstream as it was insufficient for the task at hand. This misfortune for John Fenn was an opening for Cooks, as this provided Cooks with their first commercial contract. This being down to the unique capabilities of Iain’s bespoke barge, as it could fit into the lock and worked excellently for transporting materials. This was a real milestone in the trading of Cooks, as it marked the beginning of working for both commercial clients, as well as private domestic ones. This project established Cooks name amongst the EA and other marquee clients. It led onto two other major contracts for Cooks that really set them apart from the competition at the time.

 

1986 saw Cooks run the construction of Temple Marina. Then in 1989/90 Cooks landed their longest contract at the time, an 18-month project at Viners Island, protecting the top end of the island. 1991 saw the birth of Iain’s son, Sam, who has grown up working with Iain and is currently the operations director. 2004 saw the establishment of Cook Piling Limited. This logo became iconic with river works in the West Thames area for any work from Teddington Lock up to Buscot. 2021 saw the rebrand of Cook Piling, because as a company we undertake a whole array of marine services, hence the change to Cooks Marine Services.

Contact Us