Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
1
Conclusion
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Accepted
Coastal erosion and landslides have profound and far reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. While the physical loss of homes, buildings, and infrastructure is visible and measurable, the broader human and social impacts are equally severe but are not fully recognised. Impacts include harm to mental wellbeing, the deepening …
Government response. The government recognises the profound human impacts of coastal erosion, including those on health and wellbeing, stating this is why it reformed its flood and coastal erosion risk management funding policy in October 2025 to simplify rules and enable strategic …
2
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
Defra should, in its response to this report, set out how it recognises and incorporates the full range of human impacts of coastal erosion into policy development and funding decisions, including clear actions or criteria for doing so. It should also provide a defined approach to community engagement that details …
Government response. The government's response outlines reforms to property buying and selling, focusing on requiring critical information, including coastal erosion risk, in property listings through new guidance and a roadmap by 2026. It also mentions the new NCERM mapping. However, it does …
3
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
The estate agent and conveyancing processes fail to reliably identify or disclose coastal erosion and landslide risks, leaving homebuyers without vital information. This is unacceptable given that clear risk data is already publicly available through tools such as National Coastal Erosion Risk Map (NCERM) and the Digital Shoreline Management Plan …
Government response. The government did not address the recommendation to introduce mandatory coastal erosion risk disclosure in conveyancing or standardise material information. It instead stated it has no plans for government-backed coastal erosion insurance and then referenced a different committee recommendation regarding …
4
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
Coastal erosion and landslide risk should be included as material information in conveyancing, and the Government NCERM website should be signposted. The conveyancing profession and estate agents should be required to inform prospective homebuyers if a home falls within the risk zone in any of the scenarios projected in the …
Government response. The government response did not address the recommendation about including coastal erosion and landslide risk as material information in conveyancing or requiring disclosure by estate agents. Instead, it described a review of the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG).
5
Conclusion
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
Communities affected by coastal erosion and landslides face significant financial vulnerability due to the lack of comprehensive insurance coverage. The Flood Re programme demonstrates that government-backed schemes can dramatically improve affordability and access to insurance for high-risk households. (Conclusion, Paragraph 19)
Government response. The government's response discusses ongoing Coastal Adaptation and Transition Adaptation plans (CAP and CTAP) and the forthcoming refreshed FCERM Strategy in 2027, which will inform future policy for coastal erosion adaptation. However, it does not address the committee's observation about …
6
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
Defra should work with insurers to commission a review into feasibility of implementing a Flood Re-like Government-backed insurance product for coastal erosion and landslides. (Recommendation, Paragraph 20)
Government response. The government's response details the role of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Coastal Change Management Areas (CCMAs) in managing coastal risk through spatial planning, and mentions recent consultations on NPPF changes. It does not address the recommendation to …
7
Conclusion
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
The restriction in eligibility for the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) to properties purchased before June 2009 is arbitrary. It also fails to reflect the reality that erosion risks continue to be poorly communicated during property transactions and are intensifying due to climate change. The grant value has also not …
Government response. The government's response details its approach to calculating benefits for FCERM funding, including monetised and non-monetised benefits, and mentions ongoing research into the mental health costs of coastal erosion. It does not address the committee's specific concerns regarding the eligibility …
8
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Not Addressed
Defra should commit to reviewing the current 2009 property purchase qualifying date and value of the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) and, by June 2026, launch a structured assessment of whether this threshold and available grant remain justified. This review should examine evidence on historic and ongoing shortcomings in coastalerosion …
Government response. The government's response describes the general operation of the flood and coastal erosion investment programme, its evidence-led approach, and how funding decisions are made. It does not address the specific recommendation to review the eligibility criteria and value of the …
9
Conclusion
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Deferred
Innovative adaptation measures, including property purchase and relocation schemes, have been successfully piloted through the Coastal Change Pathfinder and the ongoing Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). However, these benefits remain confined to selected pilot areas for a limited period, and longterm support for communities affected by coastal erosion is not …
Government response. The government acknowledged the need for long-term support for communities affected by coastal erosion and stated that ongoing pilot programmes (CAP and CTAP) will be evaluated to inform future policy. The refreshed National FCERM Strategy, expected in 2027, will incorporate …
10
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Accepted in Part
When the CTAP pilot concludes in 2027, Defra should move away from a selective piloting approach. In its response to this report, it should commit to establishing a longterm national strategy that provides financial assistance and relocation support for properties at risk of coastal change. This strategy should be in …
Government response. The government commits to evaluating the CAP and CTAP pilots to inform future policy and develop a long-term model of support for homeowners at risk of coastal erosion. It states that the refreshed FCERM Strategy, expected in 2027, will embed …
11
Conclusion
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Deferred
Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) are not consistently integrated into Local Plans, resulting in planning decisions that do not account for future coastalchange risks. The mismatch between Local Plan timescales and the longerterm horizons of SMPs could lead to developments being approved in areas that are not expected to remain protected, …
Government response. The government highlighted existing policies requiring local plans to consider coastal change and integrate Shoreline Management Plans. It is currently analysing feedback from a consultation on National Planning Policy Framework changes and will publish its response in due course.
12
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Rejected
The Environment Agency should work with MHCLG to strengthen the role of SMPs within Local Plans and use the ongoing Local Plan reforms to establish a statutory requirement for coastal planning authorities to incorporate SMPs as a core part of the evidence base for planmaking, with compliance monitored through the …
Government response. The government states that the existing National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) already require local authorities to consider Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). It acknowledges a consultation on NPPF changes and will publish a response, but indicates …
13
Conclusion
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Acknowledged
Past FCERM funding arrangements have limited support for coastal management by relying on narrow benefit assessments that overlook wider, nonmonetised risks from coastal erosion and the existential pressures facing coastal communities and industries. We welcome the Government’s intention to incorporate broader nonmonetised benefits into the prioritisation process from 2026. However, …
Government response. The government clarifies its approach to incorporating wider non-monetised benefits into FCERM funding, explaining that these are already accounted for through qualitative assessments in project appraisals and existing guidance, including impacts on tourism, community viability, and coastal industries. It also …
14
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Accepted in Part
In its response, Defra should provide a plan setting out how wider nonmonetised benefits for coastal erosion projects will be incorporated into the reformed FCERM funding model. This plan should: 22 a. Specify the benefits to be included in the 2026 FCERM prioritisation process and provide the methodology for assessing …
Government response. The government explains that wider non-monetised benefits, including tourism and community viability, are already incorporated into FCERM project appraisals through qualitative assessments and existing guidance. It also confirms that the Environment Agency's research team is currently undertaking independent research to …
15
Recommendation
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impa…
Rejected
In response to this report the Government should publish an indicative ratio or allocation range for projects under £3 million, broken down by flood and coastal projects, to prevent unintended competition between inland and coastal schemes and ensure balanced investment. (Recommendation, Paragraph 47) 23
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to publish an indicative ratio for projects under £3 million, stating that it would risk constraining their evidence-led approach to the flood and coastal erosion investment programme. They explain that funding decisions are based on …