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Potentially Vulnerable Areas

Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) are areas where the highest flood risk exists now or is likely to occur in the future. PVAs help Scotland to understand and prioritise where flood risk management work could be of most benefit. They are a vital part of protecting people, properties, businesses, communities, infrastructure, and our environment.

PVAs are determined from the National Flood Risk Assessment and are the building blocks of the flood risk management plans.

PVAs were first identified in 2011 and are updated every 6 years.

Current cycle

The current flood risk management cycle covers the years 2022-2028, based on PVAs published in 2018.

View the current PVAs hosted on our Flood Maps platform. 

Visit our environmental data section to download the current PVAs.

PVAs for 2028 to 2034

Following a public consultation, PVAs were updated In December 2024 for use in the next flood risk management cycle, covering 2028 to 2034.

The consultation digest summarises responses received and the resulting changes made to the PVAs.

View the 2028-2034 PVAs on our Flood Maps platform.

Visit our environmental data section to download the 2028 to 2034 PVAs.