Clifton Scannell Emerson Associates (CSEA) were appointed by a private client to undertake a flood risk assessment as part of feasibility study and planning application for a €200m Data Centre Development in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin. The site is located in an area identified on the Office of Public Work’s Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) mapping as being in an area which may be subject to flooding.
Using site survey information, LiDAR mapping, historical flood records and catchment flood mapping CSEA were able to demonstrate that the site is not at risk of flooding for the 1 in 100 year event, In addition CSEA also investigated the risk of flooding associated with the adjacent Grand Canal and introduced mitigation measures into the site layout to prevent flooding in the event of an embankment breach. Accordingly the local authority did not see flood risk as impendence to granting a planning permission.
CSEA’s service included liaison with local authority officials, reviewing historical data, procuring specialists to undertake survey work and production of a flood risk assessment report for planning submission.