Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Not Addressed
The restriction in eligibility for the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) to properties purchased before...
Conclusion
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 increased since 2010, and the £6,000 per property available is substantially below the true costs of demolition, leaving homeowners and local authorities with significant costs at an already vulnerable time. (Conclusion, Paragraph 23)
Government Response Summary
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 criteria or value of the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG).
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Calculating benefits to determine value for money is the cornerstone of our approach to FCERM funding. In this context, wider benefits refer to non-flood and non-erosion benefits that arise as a by-product of increased resilience delivered through flood and coastal erosion projects, including environmental outcomes captured through natural capital, and wider social and economic benefits. These wider benefits are accounted for in the appraisal for FCERM projects. In respect of the committee’s recommendation on benefits that are challenging to monetise, these are also incorporated through appraisal and prioritisation processes that consider both monetised and non-monetised benefits when assessing overall value for money. Where benefits cannot be robustly quantified, project appraisals include a structured qualitative assessment alongside monetised impacts, enabling decision-makers to take account of their scale, distribution and relevance to place. This includes benefits associated with tourism and recreation, the long-term viability and resilience of coastal communities, and the protection of nationally and locally significant coastal industries such as energy infrastructure. The EA’s appraisal guidance and supporting tools provide a framework for identifying and evidencing these impacts, ensuring that wider social, economic and environmental outcomes are transparently reflected alongside quantified benefits when projects are prioritised for funding. In addition, the EA’s FCERM Research and Development team are currently undertaking research to assess the mental health costs of coastal erosion. The research will focus on three mental health conditions: anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and will be published later in 2026. The findings of this project can be used to inform future research. 8. Reforms to FCERM capital investment programme Committee recommendation, paragraph 47: 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.