Environment Agency publishes flood strategy

The Environment Agency (EA) has launched a roadmap setting out practical actions to be taken over the next four years to tackle the growing threat of flooding from rivers, the sea, and surface water as well as coastal erosion.

Key actions from the FCERM Strategy Roadmap included:

• developing a new national assessment of flood risk from rivers, the sea and surface water that will provide better data and mapping to inform future risk and investment decisions;

• working with coastal groups to update the policies and actions in Shoreline Management Plans so they reflect adaptation to a changing climate;

• working with national infrastructure providers, including National Highways and Network Rail, on joint investment opportunities to ensure national infrastructure is resilient to future flooding and coastal change;

• working with Ofwat to ensure that water company assets are resilient and contribute to better flood risk outcomes;

• working with Natural England, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, and other partners to collate evidence and case studies to help mainstream nature-based solutions that enhance flood and coastal resilience and nature recovery;

• working with Flood Re and the insurance sector to develop a communications programme for homeowners to signpost advice and support on the benefits of property flood resilience;

• developing new training materials with the Town and Country Planning Association to help improve skills and capabilities on flood risk and development planning;

• working with the Environment Agency’s supply chain to ensure all flood and coastal projects adopt low carbon technologies that contribute to zero carbon targets;

• continuing to improve the Environment Agency’s digital tools for people to check their flood risk and sign up to flood warnings; and

• working with Department for Education, schools, and children’s charities to improve young people’s knowledge of flood risk and climate change.

The EA said the plan would directly support the implementation of the £5.2bn capital investment programme which will better protect many hundreds of thousands of properties from flooding and coastal erosion by 2027.