Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
6th Report - Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 1317
Published 20 March 2026
Recommendations
2
Not Addressed
Defra should, in its response to this report, set out how it recognises and incorporates...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 not address how human impacts are incorporated into coastal erosion policy and funding decisions or provide a defined approach to community engagement.
3
Not Addressed
The estate agent and conveyancing processes fail to reliably identify or disclose coastal erosion and...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant.
4
Not Addressed
Coastal erosion and landslide risk should be included as material information in conveyancing, and the...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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).
6
Not Addressed
Defra should work with insurers to commission a review into feasibility of implementing a Flood...
Recommendation
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 Summary
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 commission a review into a Flood Re-like insurance product for coastal erosion.
8
Not Addressed
Defra should commit to reviewing the current 2009 property purchase qualifying date and value of...
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) or publish revised figures by the specified deadlines.
Conclusions (2)
5
Conclusion
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 Summary
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 the lack of comprehensive insurance or the potential for a Flood Re-like scheme for coastal erosion.
7
Conclusion
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 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).