Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
22
Conclusion
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
We welcome the Government’s consultation on a new investment framework for flood and coastal resilience. The proposed shift to a simpler, more strategic approach is a positive step. However, unless the revised framework explicitly considers social vulnerability and the long-term community impacts of flooding, it risks perpetuating current shortcomings. Without …
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We welcome the Government’s consultation on a new investment framework for flood and coastal resilience. The proposed shift to a simpler, more strategic approach is a positive step. However, unless the revised framework explicitly considers social vulnerability and the long-term community impacts of flooding, it risks perpetuating current shortcomings. Without such reform, funding may continue to prioritise projects based primarily on narrow financial metrics rather than broader measures of social and community need, even when projects remain economically justifiable. (Conclusion, Paragraph 77)
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Government response AI summary
The government confirms that the new investment framework will give equal weighting to all types of benefit and commits to valuing a broad range of co-benefits, including social outcomes. It explicitly states that deprived communities will receive investment proportionate to their population weight, with specific …
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27
Conclusion
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
Public awareness of flood risk is dangerously low, undermining national flood resilience efforts. Too many people do not understand the risks they face, how to respond to warnings, or how to protect their homes. This reflects both a strategic failure and an associated communications oversight, leaving lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure …
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Public awareness of flood risk is dangerously low, undermining national flood resilience efforts. Too many people do not understand the risks they face, how to respond to warnings, or how to protect their homes. This reflects both a strategic failure and an associated communications oversight, leaving lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure exposed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 99)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of public communication regarding flood risk and details the Environment Agency's existing extensive awareness-raising activities, including annual Flood Action Week campaigns, digital resources, educational outreach to schools, and partnerships with voluntary organisations.
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28
Recommendation
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
The Government must launch a major national flood awareness campaign, co-designed with flood-affected communities and delivered with trusted local partners such as flood wardens, schools, the media, and frontline services. This campaign should be coordinated across relevant public bodies and agencies, ensuring consistent messaging and integration into their day-to-day operations …
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The Government must launch a major national flood awareness campaign, co-designed with flood-affected communities and delivered with trusted local partners such as flood wardens, schools, the media, and frontline services. This campaign should be coordinated across relevant public bodies and agencies, ensuring consistent messaging and integration into their day-to-day operations as a core part of national flood strategy. It should begin as soon as possible, and no later than March 2026, and must seek to: • Increase sign-up to flood warning services and public readiness to act on them, • Improve public use of risk maps and clarify agency roles and responsibilities in response and recovery, • Target outreach to hard-to-reach groups, including people with low literacy, limited digital access, or language barriers, as well as those with physical or mental health challenges, and • Embed flood education in schools and workplaces, on par with fire safety, with practical household guidance. (Recommendation, Paragraph 100)
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Government response AI summary
The government describes the Environment Agency's existing annual Flood Action Week and ongoing communication activities, which include stakeholder events, media partnerships, digital resources, partner engagement, and educational outreach to schools, indicating that these efforts already address the goals of a national flood awareness campaign.
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33
Conclusion
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
Local authorities lack the capacity to deliver their flood risk duties effectively. Without adequate resources and skills, local authorities cannot fulfil their statutory responsibilities or support communities facing increasing flood risk. (Conclusion, Paragraph 110)
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Local authorities lack the capacity to deliver their flood risk duties effectively. Without adequate resources and skills, local authorities cannot fulfil their statutory responsibilities or support communities facing increasing flood risk. (Conclusion, Paragraph 110)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges local authorities' capacity issues, noting a Defra report has informed reforms to the Local Government Finance Settlement (Fair Funding Review 2.0) from 2026-2027. The Environment Agency is also building skills via its 2026 Roadmap, and an Insights Report on flood risk management …
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34
Recommendation
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
The Government should complete its review of local government funding for flood risk management by the end of 2025 and commit to a long- term, needs-based settlement that enables councils to fulfil their flood duties. The Government should set out how it will address critical skills shortages in local flood …
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The Government should complete its review of local government funding for flood risk management by the end of 2025 and commit to a long- term, needs-based settlement that enables councils to fulfil their flood duties. The Government should set out how it will address critical skills shortages in local flood resilience, including funding and workforce planning. These measures must ensure that local government is equipped to assess, plan for, and respond to flood risk in a changing climate. (Recommendation, Paragraph 111)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that a Defra report informed the Fair Funding Review 2.0, which will simplify the grant system for local authorities from 2026–2027 to provide a needs-based settlement. Additionally, the Environment Agency's Roadmap to 2026 is building skills, and a 'Building Skills for Community …
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35
Recommendation
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
Flood resilience is not only about individual protection but about sustaining communities, businesses, and housing markets. Property Flood Resilience (PFR) must be mainstreamed as a core part of flood recovery, rather than treated as an optional add-on. Without reform, PFR will remain inaccessible to those who need it most, deepening …
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Flood resilience is not only about individual protection but about sustaining communities, businesses, and housing markets. Property Flood Resilience (PFR) must be mainstreamed as a core part of flood recovery, rather than treated as an optional add-on. Without reform, PFR will remain inaccessible to those who need it most, deepening inequalities and 66 leaving households and businesses vulnerable to repeated disruption. The Government must act to make resilience mainstream, affordable, and fair. (Conclusion, Paragraph 118)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the important role of Property Flood Resilience (PFR) and highlights the independent FloodReady review, which published 22 recommendations and 50 actions in October to mainstream PFR. The government states it is already taking these recommendations forward, with a leadership group reporting regularly …
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36
Recommendation
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Accepted
The Government should consult on how to make Property Flood Resilience (PFR) a routine part of flood recovery. This consultation should explore options for reforming the existing grant scheme to provide consistent, needs-based funding and wider accessibility, including simplifying the process, updating grant levels, and extending eligibility to renters and …
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The Government should consult on how to make Property Flood Resilience (PFR) a routine part of flood recovery. This consultation should explore options for reforming the existing grant scheme to provide consistent, needs-based funding and wider accessibility, including simplifying the process, updating grant levels, and extending eligibility to renters and social housing tenants. Any changes should be implemented following consultation and evaluation. Local delivery models, such as block grants to councils, direct supplier payments, or insurer-led applications should be explored to increase uptake and reduce barriers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 119)
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Government response AI summary
The government points to the independent FloodReady review and an Environment Agency commissioned review which engaged stakeholders on property flood resilience. It highlights that Defra continuously reviews the existing property flood resilience grant scheme and has made updates based on feedback and a 2022 evaluation, …
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