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Call for Evidence

Flood resilience in England

The Environmental Audit Committee is seeking views on how the UK Government can strengthen flood resilience in response to increasing risks from extreme weather, rising sea levels, and evolving flood hazards.

In England, an estimated 5.7 million properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water, and groundwater.[1]

Following the widespread devastation caused by Storm Babet last year,[2] the impacts of flooding have struck again in 2024. In recent weeks, Storm Bert flooded 107 homes and Storm Darragh triggered over 200 flood warnings and flood alerts across England, once again highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of communities to severe weather events.[3] Earlier this year, Storm Henk triggered severe weather warnings and flooding in the East Midlands, while April’s Storms Kathleen and Pierrick caused significant damage along the south coast and in the North East. These challenges have brought flood risk management back into the national spotlight, as climate change continues to increase the likelihood of such events.

Looking to the future, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) anticipates that by 2050, the UK will face warmer, wetter winters, hotter, drier summers, and continued sea level rises.[6] Sea levels, which have already risen by 16cm since 1900, could place a third of England’s coastline under significant flood pressure.[7]

Flooding and coastal erosion are complex issues with serious economic, social, and environmental consequences.[8] They pose significant risks to lives, health, homes, and infrastructure, yet the best path forward remains uncertain.

Critical national infrastructure—including water supply systems, rail networks, and electricity grids—face vulnerabilities that will require careful evaluation and planning.[9]

The previous government had acknowledged that building new flood defences and maintaining existing ones is no longer enough and that a wider range of interventions is  needed to build resilience against increasing flood risk.[10]

Building resilience to flooding is likely to demand a mix of approaches, from flood mitigation and climate adaptation strategies to sustainable land-use practices.[11] Particular attention needs to be given to vulnerable communities, ensuring that those most at risk are adequately protected and included in resilience strategies.

Many flood protection schemes that were on DEFRA’s list have increased in cost due to inflation and now have significant funding gaps.[12]

 

Terms of reference

The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference, to be received through the Committee’s inquiry portal (found by clicking 'start' at the bottom of this page) by 5.00 pm on Monday 13 January 2025:

 

Strengthening flood resilience

1. To what extent are current flood resilience assets and interventions fit-for-purpose and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

  • Are there alternative approaches from across the UK and elsewhere which could help inform improvements and innovation?

 

2. How appropriate is the current balance between 'green' nature-based solutions and 'grey' hard infrastructure resilience assets, and what adjustments, if any, are needed to improve it?

  • What role can natural flood management techniques, such as wetland restoration and tree planting, play in enhancing flood resilience while contributing to broader biodiversity and climate objectives?

 

3. What changes to the planning system and building regulations are needed to ensure that buildings and infrastructure are resilient to flooding in the short, medium, and long-term?

  • What long-term land use strategies and approaches to flooding should the government consider, especially for communities that cannot be protected from flooding or inundation?

 

Monitoring flood resilience

4. To what extent are current metrics for monitoring the effectiveness of flood resilience fit for purpose, and what improvements could make them more effective?

  • Do current metrics capture the range and effectiveness of privately-owned flood resilience assets, and if not, how can this be improved?
  • Do we have appropriate metrics and mechanisms to measure the cost effectiveness of flooding assets and interventions in terms of investment versus long-term savings and, if not, what should they look like?

 

Coordination of flood resilience

5. How effectively and how frequently do flood risk management authorities work together to tackle flooding issues and do they have sufficient resources and skills available to carry out their work?

  • For instance, how can the government ensure that areas prone to flooding near the mouth of a river, are not negatively impacted by increased pressure on the river, or by flood-mitigation measures taken upstream?
  • Where is the interface between the responsibilities for river and surface water flooding, and how could monitoring and coordination be improved to enhance effectiveness and early warning of flooding?

 

6. What should the key priorities be for the Flood Resilience Taskforce, and how can it enhance coordination and improve flood resilience?

  • Is there a role for community-based flood response teams, and who is responsible for building that resource?

 

7. Is there a backlog in maintenance of existing flooding adaptation/resilience assets and in identifying where new ones could be introduced?

  • Is there clarity about whose responsibilities these are, and how could this be improved?
  • How strong is the knowledge base on both the condition of existing assets and where new ones might be needed and what steps could strengthen it?

 

Resources, funding and support for flood resilience

8. What level of flood resilience is required to address the flood risks identified in the Climate Change Risk Assessment and is current funding adequate to meet these risks effectively?

  • Is there sufficient government support and funding for the maintenance of privately-owned flood defence and resilience assets?
  • What changes, if any, should be made to the next iteration of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) investment programme to improve its outcomes?
  • How well does the National Adaptation Plan address the need for flooding adaptation measures, and what additional steps should be taken to ensure effective long-term flood resilience in high-risk areas?

 

9. How can the Government encourage more long-term private investment in flooding defences and resilience measures?

  • What role can the insurance industry play in supporting this?

 

10. What support do property owners and neighbourhoods require to enhance their resilience to flooding?

  • What is the current level of awareness among property owners about flood resilience measures, how they can be improved, and who can support it?

 

Written evidence should be submitted through the Committee’s web portal by 5pm on Monday 13 January.  Respondents need not answer all the questions and evidence need not be limited to these questions. Submissions should be not more than 3,000 words but shorter submissions are welcomed and encouraged. It is recommended that all submitters familiarise themselves with the Guidance on giving evidence to a Select Committee of the House of Commons which outlines word count, format, document size, and content restrictions.

We encourage members of underrepresented groups to submit written evidence. The House of Commons is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we will do our best to help you if a reasonable adjustment would enable you to participate in the Committee’s inquiry. If you require an adjustment, such as an extension to the deadline or submitting evidence in a different format, please contact eacom@parliament.uk.

[1] House of Commons Library Research Briefing, Flood risk management and funding, (5 November 2024)

[2] BBC News, Storm Babet: Met Office rain warning issued for flood-hit parts of England (24 October 2023)

[3] BBC News, Storm Bert: More rain forecast as clean-up begins - BBC News (25 November 2024)

[4] BBC News, Storm Henk batters UK leading to power outages, travel disruption and flooding, (3 January 2024)

[5] BBC Newsround, Storm Pierrick: French storm bringing floods to areas across the UK, (9 April 2024)

[6] Climate Change Committee, Progress in adapting to climate change - 2023 Report to Parliament, (29 March 2023)

[7] Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, Readiness for storms ahead? Critical national infrastructure in an age of climate change, (HC 132; 27 October 2022)

[8] House of Commons Library Research Briefing, Flood risk management and funding, (5 November 2024)

[9] As above

[10] NAO, Resilience to flooding, (HC 189; 15 November 2023)

[11] UKRI, Improving the UK’s resilience to floods and droughts, (31 August 2024)

[12] House of Commons Library Research Briefing, Flood risk management and funding, (5 November 2024)

This call for written evidence has now closed.

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