Flood Alert Issued for Groundwater Flooding in Patcham and Withdean

Alert Details

The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert (Severity Level 3) for groundwater flooding in the Patcham area. While groundwater levels at the Ladies Mile borehole remain high and close to the surface, they are currently reported to be slowly falling.

Affected Areas

The alert specifically covers Patcham and surrounding areas within the Brighton and Hove district. Based on previous flooding events, impacts are most likely to affect residents on Old London Road in Patcham and Peacock Lane in Withdean.

What You Should Do

Residents in the affected areas are advised to ensure that any basement pumps are in good working order. The Environment Agency is currently liaising with the Brighton and Hove City Council to monitor the situation and manage potential impacts.

Expected Conditions

A small amount of water may continue to appear in a limited number of basements, though the frequency of these incidents is expected to decrease as levels fall. Only small amounts of rainfall are forecast over the next five days through March 10, 2026. While unsettled conditions and periods of rain may return during the second half of March 2026, it is probable that groundwater levels will continue their gradual decline throughout the month. However, the agency warns that persistent or exceptional rainfall in late March could cause levels to rise again.

Timeline

The alert was officially raised on March 6, 2026. Groundwater levels are expected to continue falling over the coming week, and visible impacts are likely to cease soon. The Environment Agency plans to provide an updated message by 18:00 on March 10, 2026.