Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
4th Report – Flood resilience in England
Environmental Audit Committee
HC 550
Published 13 October 2025
Recommendations
2
Deferred
Amend Flood Act to establish statutory duty for authorities and empower Environment Agency oversight
Recommendation
Flood resilience must be embedded in statute as a clear responsibility, not left as a discretionary ambition. The Government should bring forward proposals to amend the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 to establish a duty for all relevant authorities …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the need for long-term investment but will only consider the recommendation for resilience standards as part of an existing commitment to explore a long-term target, with a further statement planned next year. The Environment Agency will also start a review of its strategy next year to define flood resilience, while stating risk management authorities are already required to act.
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 …
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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.
8
Not Addressed
Mandate catchment-scale planning and delivery through regional partnerships with statutory duties by 2027
Recommendation
Catchment-based planning must become the default approach, not a discretionary extra. By 2027, the Government should mandate catchment- scale planning and delivery through regional partnerships with defined statutory duties, long-term funding, and clear oversight. These partnerships should coordinate key actors …
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Government Response Summary
The government response is entirely unrelated to the recommendation, instead discussing an assessment of a statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services in England to respond to flooding, which is planned to conclude in summer 2026.
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 …
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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.
12
Not Addressed
Commission a national audit of all flood resilience assets by 2026.
Recommendation
The Government should commission a national audit of flood resilience assets by 2026, encompassing both engineered and nature-based infrastructure. This audit should identify the type, location, ownership, condition, and maintenance responsibilities of all relevant assets, including those owned or managed …
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Government Response Summary
The government details its recently announced changes to flood and coastal erosion funding policy, aimed at simplifying rules and optimising funding allocation for new projects and existing assets. The response does not address the recommendation to commission a national audit of flood resilience assets.
14
Not Addressed
Establish clear national mechanism for strategic oversight and accountability in flood risk management.
Recommendation
Flood resilience must be planned, integrated, and accountable, not fragmented, reactive, or opaque. The Government should establish a clear national mechanism for strategic oversight and accountability in flood risk management. By the end of 2025, it should set out how …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on strengthening the delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and exploring options for their adoption and maintenance, referencing the FloodReady report. It explicitly states it will not implement Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), and does not address the recommendation for establishing a clear national mechanism for strategic oversight and accountability in flood risk management.
15
Not Addressed
Consult on introducing statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services to respond to flooding.
Recommendation
The Government should consult on introducing a statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services in England to respond to flooding, supported by dedicated funding for training, equipment, and operational planning. This should be undertaken by the end of 2025. This …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights the Environment Agency's Flood Action Week and commitments to improving public communication, stating that a Floods Resilience Taskforce action group will explore options to improve public communication around flood reporting in 2026. This response does not address the recommendation to consult on a statutory duty for Fire and Rescue Services to respond to flooding.
17
Not Addressed
Embed climate and flood resilience as core test for all public spending by 2026.
Recommendation
By 2026, the Government should embed climate and flood resilience as a core test for all departmental spending and public investment proposals. This should be supported by clear resilience standards, measurable targets, and a requirement for every department to demonstrate …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on the importance of property flood resilience, referencing the independent FloodReady review and efforts to grow the market for such approaches. It does not address the broader recommendation to embed climate and flood resilience as a core test for all departmental spending and public investment proposals by 2026.
20
Not Addressed
Flood Resilience Taskforce's convening power needs strengthening for future investment priorities.
Recommendation
We welcome the Flood Resilience Taskforce’s role in improving cross-government coordination, including between the Environment Agency, Cabinet Office, and Defra. Its convening power should now be strengthened to influence investment priorities as well as preparedness, ensuring lessons from past events …
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Government Response Summary
The government details Defra's existing financial oversight and investment programme for flood and coastal erosion risk management, including partnership funding and new rules for allocating benefits, but does not address strengthening the Flood Resilience Taskforce's convening power.
21
Not Addressed
Strengthen Flood Resilience Taskforce's mandate for oversight of investment priorities and preparedness measures.
Recommendation
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. (Recommendation, Paragraph …
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Government Response Summary
The government details Defra's existing financial oversight and investment programme for flood and coastal erosion risk management, including partnership funding and new rules for allocating benefits, but does not address strengthening the Flood Resilience Taskforce's mandate.
23
Accepted in Part
Prioritise funding for flood-risk communities and design framework for fairer, inclusive outcomes.
Recommendation
As the Government prepares to implement the new investment framework from April 2026, it must prioritise funding for communities most at risk from flooding. A simpler system must also be a fairer one, capable of supporting those facing the greatest …
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Government Response Summary
The government outlines that its new rules for investment will give equal weighting to all types of benefit and value co-benefits, committing to invest a minimum of 20% and 40% of funds in the 20% and 40% most deprived communities respectively, over the next three and ten years.
24
Deferred
Current planning system builds flood risk into landscape, undermining national resilience efforts.
Recommendation
The planning system in its current form is not keeping pace with the modern realities of flooding but is instead building risk into the landscape. We recognise the need for new homes, but development should not be permitted in areas …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it will consider whether further changes are necessary to manage flood risk and coastal change when it consults on planning reform later this year.
25
Deferred
Initiate consultation on statutory requirements for cumulative flood impact assessments in plans.
Recommendation
The Government should initiate consultation on statutory requirements for assessing the cumulative impact of development on flood risk within local and regional plans by the end of 2025. These requirements should be introduced by 2027, ensuring land use policy and …
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Government Response Summary
The government will consider whether further changes are necessary to manage flood risk and coastal change when it consults on planning reform later this year. It states the Land Use Framework will set out a strategic approach for land transformation and that agricultural land is already considered in flood defence funding.
26
Rejected
Commence Schedule 3 of Act, making Sustainable Drainage Systems mandatory in new developments.
Recommendation
Despite repeated pledges by successive governments, Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 has still not been brought into force in England, leaving Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) optional in new developments and missing a critical opportunity to …
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Government Response Summary
The government rejects commencing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, stating that improved SuDS delivery could be achieved by building on current planning policy and exploring options for adoption and maintenance instead. It intends to consult on national planning policy and legislative options related to SuDS in due course.
28
Accepted
Launch major national flood awareness campaign to increase preparedness and educate communities.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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.
29
Deferred
Single national flood reporting and information service is a strategic necessity.
Recommendation
A single national flood reporting and information service is not just a communications improvement; it is a strategic necessity. Without a clear, accessible point of contact, the public remains confused, response is delayed, and resilience efforts are undermined. Establishing this …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the principle of improving support and coordination, stating an action group of the Floods Resilience Taskforce will identify options in 2026 for improved communication and coordination around flood reporting and information.
30
Deferred
Establish a comprehensive national flood reporting and information service by March 2026.
Recommendation
The Government should establish a single, widely promoted national flood reporting and information service by March 2026. This service should build upon and expand the existing Floodline system to provide a clear point of contact for all types of flooding, …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the need for clear flood information and improved community support, committing to establish an action group within the Floods Resilience Taskforce in 2026 to identify options for improving public communication and coordination around flood reporting.
32
Deferred
Establish a national support framework for local flood groups and volunteers by March 2026.
Recommendation
The Government should establish a national support framework for local flood groups and volunteers by March 2026. This must provide: • Core funding to cover basic operational costs, provided through local authorities or Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, • Formal …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the principle of improved support and coordination, stating an action group of the Floods Resilience Taskforce will identify options in 2026 to improve communication and coordination, building on existing work with community groups.
34
Accepted
Complete review of local flood funding and address critical skills shortages by 2025.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 Flood Risk and Resilience Insights Report' is due in early 2026 to address skill shortages and workforce planning.
35
Accepted
Property Flood Resilience remains inaccessible, deepening inequalities and leaving communities vulnerable.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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 on progress.
36
Accepted
Consult on mainstreaming Property Flood Resilience as routine flood recovery and reforming grants.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response 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, without committing to a new formal consultation on reforming the grant as requested.
37
Deferred
Flood insurance system is inadequate, threatening household stability and market access without reform.
Recommendation
Flood insurance is not just a financial product but a cornerstone of household and market stability. Without reform, growing risk and the eventual withdrawal of Flood Re will leave vulnerable households uninsured, businesses exposed, and communities at risk of economic …
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Government Response Summary
The government recognises the impact of climate change on flood insurance and commits to reviewing, by the end of this Parliament, whether a return to a price-reflective market from 2039 remains viable. The review will explore how to ensure a fair, resilient, and accessible insurance system, including consideration of extending the Flood Re Scheme.
38
Deferred
Begin work on Flood Re successor to ensure continued, affordable flood insurance beyond 2039.
Recommendation
The Government should begin work with the insurance and mortgage sectors to ensure the continued availability and affordability of flood insurance beyond 2039, when the current Flood Re scheme is due to end. This should include options for a successor …
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Government Response Summary
The government commits to reviewing the viability of a price-reflective insurance market beyond 2039 by the end of this Parliament. This review will explore how to ensure accessible and affordable flood insurance, including considering extending the Flood Re scheme or alternative approaches.
39
Accepted in Part
Consult on strengthening insurance in flood resilience and pilot Flood Performance Certificates by 2025.
Recommendation
By the end of 2025, the Government should consult with insurers and stakeholders on strengthening the role of insurance in flood resilience. This should include promoting and simplifying access to the Build Back Better scheme. The Government should support the …
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Government Response Summary
The government supports the piloting of Flood Performance Certificates by Flood Re and has encouraged the insurance industry to promote the Build Back Better scheme through roundtables and the FloodReady report. Industry bodies have committed to actions including developing FPC prototypes and raising customer understanding of flood resilience.
Conclusions (15)
1
Conclusion
Not Addressed
We are concerned that the current flood risk framework is underpowered and fragmented. The Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy lacks enforceability, and the National Adaptation Programme does not provide the standards, targets, or delivery mechanisms needed to embed resilience across government and infrastructure. Without national benchmarks, statutory …
Government Response Summary
The government response provided is a general introductory text for the committee report and then shifts to the heading for a different recommendation (paragraph 16), failing to address the committee's concerns regarding the fragmented and underpowered flood risk framework in paragraph 15.
3
Conclusion
Not Addressed
We are concerned that there is still no agreed national standard for what constitutes a flood resilient property, system, or community. This absence undermines public understanding, weakens accountability, and makes 57 it harder to prioritise investment or measure progress. Without a clear benchmark, resilience remains a vague ambition rather than …
Government Response Summary
The government response acknowledges surface water risk and the importance of improved mapping, highlighting existing duties under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. However, it does not commit to defining a national standard for flood resilient property, system, or community, which the committee stated was missing.
5
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Surface water flooding is the most common source of flooding in England, yet it remains poorly quantified, inconsistently planned for, and often underestimated in development decisions. It is also one of the least understood and least coordinated aspects of flood resilience nationally. This represents a major gap in national flood …
Government Response Summary
The government response focuses on supporting and funding nature-based solutions, including specific investment targets for natural flood management projects. It does not address the committee's concerns regarding surface water flooding being poorly quantified, inconsistently planned for, and underestimated.
6
Conclusion
Not Addressed
We welcome the flood risk strategy becoming more dynamic and responsive to emerging risks. Surface water flooding, long underestimated, is now understood to be one of the most frequent and complex sources of flood risk. It must no longer be treated as a second-tier issue. By 2027, the 58 Government …
Government Response Summary
The government response discusses the importance of understanding and tracking flood defence assets and the Environment Agency's existing asset information system. It does not address the specific recommendations for consistently quantifying surface water flood risk, standardising mapping and modelling, or developing a national framework for data sharing on drainage infrastructure.
7
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Catchment-based planning is widely acknowledged as the most effective and integrated way to manage flood risk, improve water quality, and deliver nature-based solutions. However, despite years of policy support, it remains inconsistently applied, poorly coordinated, and underpowered by short- term, discretionary funding. Fragmented responsibilities and the absence of statutory oversight …
Government Response Summary
The government response refers to the existing National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy and the Environment Agency's legal duty for strategic oversight, noting the EA will review the strategy next year and restate responsibilities. However, it does not address the committee's concern about catchment-based planning remaining inconsistently applied, poorly coordinated, and underpowered.
9
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Nature-based solutions remain undervalued and underutilised in England’s approach to flood risk management. Despite growing evidence of their effectiveness in reducing flood risk, improving water quality, and delivering wider environmental and social benefits, they are still treated as peripheral rather than fundamental to national strategy. We find it deeply concerning …
Government Response Summary
The government response focuses on exploring stronger climate adaptation objectives and setting measurable objectives in the fourth National Adaptation Programme due in 2028. It does not specifically address the committee's concerns regarding the undervaluation, underutilisation, or deprioritisation of nature-based solutions.
11
Conclusion
Not Addressed
We find that the absence of a comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible record of flood resilience assets significantly limits England’s ability to manage flood risk strategically. The lack of visibility over third-party, locally delivered, and nature-based assets fragments responsibility, undermines coordination, and hinders long-term investment decisions. Without a full understanding of …
Government Response Summary
The government details its existing financial oversight and assurance processes for flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programmes, and the high-level oversight provided by the Floods Resilience Taskforce. It does not address the committee's finding about the absence of a comprehensive, up-to-date record of flood resilience assets.
13
Conclusion
Not Addressed
We are deeply concerned that even after more than a decade of reform, many communities still do not know who is responsible for managing flood risk where they live. A system that leaves the public unclear about accountability is not fit for purpose. Despite the original aim of the 60 …
Government Response Summary
The government reiterates its commitment to building homes with flood protection and plans to consider further changes to flood risk management as part of an upcoming planning reform consultation. The response discusses planning policy and Environment Agency support for local authorities but does not directly address the committee's concern about unclear public accountability for flood risk management.
16
Conclusion
Not Addressed
The evolving understanding of climate risk and growing data on economic losses make clear that resilience must become a central organising principle for public investment. Without a shift from reactive to preventive spending, and from loosely coordinated action to clearly mandated delivery, future climate shocks will continue to impose avoidable …
Government Response Summary
The government refers to a Defra report on flood risk management spending and subsequent reforms to the Local Government Finance Settlement (Fair Funding Review 2.0), aiming to introduce a fairer, simpler funding system for local authorities from 2026-2027. This describes changes in funding allocation but does not explicitly commit to embedding resilience as a central organising principle for all public investment.
18
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Experts have been clear: the UK is not investing at the scale required to keep pace with climate risk. This fragmented approach is leaving communities and infrastructure exposed and storing up greater costs for the future, and in real terms costing more than prevention measures due to disruption and damage …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the impact of climate change on insurance and commits to reviewing the viability of a price-reflective insurance market from 2039, including consideration of extending the Flood Re Scheme. This response does not address the committee's conclusion regarding the inadequate scale of UK investment in climate risk.
19
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Flood investment must match the scale of risk. The Government’s flood budget should rise to at least £1.5 billion per year by 2030, as recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission to keep pace with climate impacts, and be explicitly tied to the delivery of measurable resilience outcomes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 71)
Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on the role of insurance in supporting flood resilience, highlighting efforts to promote the "Build Back Better" scheme and supporting the piloting of Flood Performance Certificates. This response does not address the recommendation to increase the government’s flood budget to at least £1.5 billion per year by 2030.
22
Conclusion
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 …
Government Response 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 minimum allocations over the next three and ten years.
27
Conclusion
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 …
Government Response 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.
31
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Local flood groups and volunteers are indispensable to England’s resilience, yet they remain undervalued, underfunded, and poorly supported. Without proper recognition and resources, this community capacity risks collapsing at the very moment it is most needed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 108)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the value of local flood groups and agrees on the need for improved support and coordination for communities at risk. It commits to taking these recommendations forward through a Floods Resilience Taskforce action group in 2026, which will identify options for improvement, while also highlighting ongoing work with voluntary partners.
33
Conclusion
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)
Government Response 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 skills is due in early 2026 to inform futureproofing efforts.