Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Not Addressed
Develop and adopt clear, measurable national flood resilience standards by 2027
Recommendation
By 2027, the Government should develop and adopt clear, measurable national flood resilience standards that define the expected level of resilience based on the characteristics of the area or property. These standards should guide national and local investment, support planning decisions, and give the public confidence that resilience is being delivered consistently and transparently. These standards should be: • Embedded: the standards should be incorporated in the National Adaptation Programme (NAP), supported by long-term funding commitments aligned to those objectives. These commitments must extend beyond existing six-year budget cycles, reflecting the long-term nature of climate risk. Resources should be used more strategically, focusing on prevention and resilience rather than reactive spending. • Tiered: to reflect different types of risk (e.g., risk to life, property damage, infrastructure disruption) and levels of acceptable risk in different contexts (e.g., urban vs rural, critical infrastructure vs residential areas). • Comprehensive: applying across infrastructure, housing, and community planning. • Forward-looking: aligned with future climate projections and long- term adaptation goals. • Deliverable: backed by adequate funding, a clear implementation plan, and integration into planning, investment, and regulatory frameworks. (Recommendation, Paragraph 24)
Government Response Summary
The government response discusses the importance of catchment-based planning, integrated water management plans, ongoing calls for evidence, and devolution opportunities. It also references a future Environment Agency strategy review as an 'opportunity,' but it does not commit to developing and adopting clear, measurable national flood resilience standards by 2027 as recommended.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government agrees with the need for greater catchment-based planning, and the benefits it provides regarding flood risk. A growing number of initiatives illustrate how catchment-scale approaches and regional partnerships can deliver positive, long-term flood resilience and integrated water outcomes, such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Integrated Water Management Plan, the Severn Valley Partnership and the South Yorkshire Connected by Water Plan. The government’s recent call for evidence invited views on how flood management planning can be better aligned and integrated with other place-based plans – such as water, housing, nature, and transport. This approach can unlock multiple benefits, from flood resilience and water quality to carbon reduction and nature recovery, while creating opportunities to pool funding and support local growth priorities. We also sought views on the opportunities English devolution could bring to strengthen local choice and integrated delivery of flood planning. Following the publication of the Independent Water Commission’s final report, the government committed to introducing a regional element and a move to a catchment-based model for water planning to ensure greater local involvement and coordination. We will set out further policy detail in the forthcoming water white paper. We will continue to explore opportunities to embed closer alignment between flood and water planning across catchments. The review of the Environment Agency’s national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England in 2026 is another opportunity to showcase the value of integrated, catchment-based planning. Integrating nature-based solutions Recommendation at paragraph 43: ‘The Government should embed nature-based solutions as a core component of national flood and coastal erosion risk management by 2027. Defra, working with the Environment Agency, HM Treasury, and other key partners, should: Reform flood funding appraisal and partnership funding rules, following the Government’s current consultation on reforming the approach to floods funding, to better reflect the multi-benefit value of nature-based solutions. Set national targets for the uptake of nature-based approaches in flood risk management by 2026. Fully integrate nature-based solutions into flood, planning, and infrastructure policy by 2027, including economic support for landowners to incorporate flood resilience measures.’