Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Surface water flooding risks increasing, impacting 3.4 million properties, challenging accurate forecasting and warning.
Conclusion
The risks from surface water flooding are increasing and will continue to increase due to climate change.24 3.4 million properties are at risk of surface water flooding in England.25 The increase in impermeable surfaces—such as driveways—is adding to the 15 Q 52 16 Q 53 17 Q 2; C&AG’s Report, paras 21, 24 18 Qq 52–53 19 Committee of Public Accounts: Managing food risk. 45th report of Session 2019–21, HC 931, February 2021 Para 29 20 Q 12 21 Q 59 22 Qq 11–12 23 Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government, Environment Agency, Review of Policy for Development in areas at food risk, July 2021, section 2.6 24 Q 49 25 C&AG’s Report, Figure 1 12 Resilience to fooding problem.26 In July 2021, parts of London received a month’s rainfall within a couple of hours and more than 1,500 properties suffered from surface water flooding as a result.27 The Agency told us how difficult it is to forecast the precise areas where heavy rain will cause surface water flooding and there is frequently not enough warning of surface water flooding to allow communities to react. Around a third of the schemes in the Agency’s capital programme are to help address surface water flooding.28
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the increasing risks of surface water flooding by detailing its commitment in the Plan for Water to require standardised sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and its ongoing support, training, and guidance for local authorities.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 4.2 The government committed in the Plan for Water (April 2023) to requiring standardised sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in new developments, subject to final decisions on scope, threshold, and process, following consultation that will take place shortly. 4.3 The government recognises that there needs to be sufficient skills within the public and private sectors to support government ambitions to ensure that SuDS are an integral part of development, as well as expertise in their construction and maintenance. 4.4 Defra has published the Review of skills gap and training requirements for the implementation of SuDS and Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act (2010), this was completed in April 2023. This report assesses the current skill set within England, what additional skills are needed and how these skills will be developed and maintained in order to deliver more and improved SuDS. It will help local authorities and the wider SuDS industry in their preparedness for the implementation of SuDS in new developments. 4.5 The department is already working with DLUHC to ensure a smooth implementation of these commitments and will continue to do so. 4b. PAC recommendation: The Agency should prioritise its work to provide guidance and training for local authorities on surface water flooding, including sharing examples of good practice. 4.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 4.7 The Agency recognises that lead local flood authorities (local authorities) are responsible for managing surface water flood risks. However, the Agency, alongside its operational role for managing flood risk from rivers and the sea have an important strategic overview/leadership role for all sources of flooding, including surface water. This is set out within the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England. This means the Agency is uniquely placed to convene those working on surface water, share best practice and enable training. 4.8 The Agency is already supporting local authorities with commitments included within the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Roadmap to 2026. A recent example are the webinars and training delivered jointly with the Town and Country Planning Association to over 200 local planning authorities to improve planning decisions. 4.9 The Agency has recently developed a Supporting Flood and Coast Projects site. This aims to give all risk management authorities equal access to support, tools, guidance and learning materials. E-learning modules are also being made available through this platform. 4.10 The Agency recognises that the needs of local authorities differ. Therefore, it will work with local authority representatives to understand their training needs and build on the existing work to fill any gaps identified. The Agency will also collate and share best practice from across all risk management authorities to enable more efficient and effective management of surface water flood risk.