Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
Embed nature-based solutions as core to flood risk management, reforming funding and setting targets.
Recommendation
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. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)
Government Response Summary
The government highlights its record investment in flood resilience and new general funding rules taking effect from April 2026 to optimise investment. However, the response does not specifically commit to embedding nature-based solutions as a core component, reforming funding appraisal to reflect their multi-benefit value, or setting national targets for their uptake by 2026/2027.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government recognises the need for continued, significant investment to boost flood resilience, with flood risks only likely to increase due to climate change. This is why this government has increased investment to record levels. Over 2024/25 and 2025/26 we are investing £2.65 billion, an average of £1.33 billion a year compared with an average of £1.09 billion spent under the previous government between 2021/22 and 2023/24. It is also why the government committed to invest £4.2 billion over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across the country. This is £1.4 billion on average each year, not including funding spent by local authorities on flood risk management through the local government funding settlement. The government also recognises the need to make a longer-term commitment. That is why, as part of the National Infrastructure Strategy we announced that we would invest £7.9 billion of capital expenditure in flood defences over the next decade. Taken together with the £2.65 billion investment for 24/25–25/26, that’s at least £10.5 billion of confirmed investment in flood defences by 2036, which will better protect nearly 900,000 properties. As the £10.5 billion commitment only includes capital funding from 1 April 2026, the total invested in boosting flood and coastal erosion resilience will be higher, once resource funding is added. The government is committed to ensuring the money we do spend makes measurable impacts and delivers clear resilience outcomes. The government’s new funding rules, taking effect from April 2026, will optimise funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defence assets. New strategic objectives will drive funding towards the most beneficial interventions measured by an integrated set of outcome metrics. Recommendation at paragraph 73: ‘The Government should strengthen the Flood Resilience Taskforce’s mandate by 2026 to provide formal oversight of investment priorities and preparedness measures, ensuring that lessons from past events are systematically incorporated into national flood resilience planning across Government departments.’