Deteriorating Flood Defence Assets
Failure of the Environment Agency to maintain flood defence assets at required conditions, increasing flood risk for properties.
Source spread
Where this theme appears
This theme appears across 7 independent accountability sources, so the source mix matters as much as the headline total.
11 PFD reports
86 committee recs
2 NAO recs
4 IMB recs
1 IMB report
170 LGO/SPSO decisions
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Prevention of Future Deaths reports(11)
William McCourt
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns regarding the absence of records for resident flood reports, an unverified assumption about land ownership, and a subsequent three-month period of inaction to address the flooding issue. There was no formal written communication to establish responsibility, leading to delays in resolving the hazard.
Response (North Yorkshire County Council): • Training has been provided to minimise human error in logging and recording enquiries. • Clearer direction is now given to staff to ensure better records are kept. • Further … (AI summary)
Responded
Dr Edward Slaney
Concerns: The coroner notes a lack of appropriate criteria for assessing the wind effects of tall buildings on highway users' safety. There is also a need for guidance to planning authorities to consider these wind effects on all road users.
Overdue
Elizabeth Aurora Kerr
Concerns: The coroner noted unadopted recommendations from a 2011 report on carbon monoxide deaths and insufficient guidance on CO movement within buildings. Further concerns related to the Fire and Rescue Services' lack of a statutory role in CO safety and a need for regulators and fuel suppliers to review preventative actions.
Overdue
Daniel Hodgin
Concerns: The coroner noted that a towpath gate, intended to be closed and locked when river levels reached 1.95 meters, was open despite higher water levels. There was no clear system for the Environment Agency to notify Shropshire Council of water levels, rendering the gate closure instruction ineffective.
Response (Environment Agency): • The Environment Agency spoke with Shropshire County Council to assist them in utilising the provided river level information. • A technical note was produced for the council to aid … (AI summary)
Response (Shropshire Council): • Shropshire Council engaged a software company to develop an automatic alert system for river levels, with the intention of sending SMS messages to key personnel for timely gate closure. … (AI summary)
Overdue
Roger Hamer
Concerns: The coroner noted insufficient recording and monitoring of carriageway deterioration by highway inspectors. Additionally, concerns were raised that a new highway management procedure, by redefining the 40mm defect threshold to an 'investigation level', could increase risks, especially for cyclists.
Response (Bury Council): • Highway inspectors now routinely take photographs of defects, and repair crews also take photographs prior to and post repair. • The Council proposes to implement a formal procedure for … (AI summary)
Response (Department for Transport): • The Government provided £6 billion from 2015 to 2021 for local highway authorities to improve road conditions. • An additional £250 million was provided to address potholes. • The … (AI summary)
Responded
Ray Westlake
Concerns: The coroner noted significant standing water on a stretch of the A424 due to overwhelmed drainage features, and the absence of warning signs for motorists about potential flooding.
Response (Gloucestershire Highways): • Gloucestershire County Council erected flood warning signs at the site on 29th July 2019. • This action was taken in response to the information provided in the Regulation 28 … (AI summary)
Responded
Saeid Hedayat
Concerns: West Sussex County Council's drain clearance risk assessments did not consider zone 1 blockages, lacked regular review, and were not updated despite increased storm severity or public reports. There were also no warning signs for regularly flooding areas.
Response (West Sussex County Council): • West Sussex County Council reviewed its gully cleansing data in 2019 and implemented an optimised programme. • The council adopted a new approach to record 'Zone blockages' to enhance … (AI summary)
Responded
Adam Simms
Concerns: The coroner identified issues with the drainage gully inspection system, as blocked gullies were not identified in a recent check. A lack of explanation for significant standing water on the carriageway means the highway remains at risk of future water ingress.
Response (North Lincolnshire Council): • The Council undertook three wet weather safety inspections of the area in November 2022. • The Council stated it does not agree with the coroner's assessment that there was … (AI summary)
Responded
Michael Holmes
Concerns: The coroner raised concerns about the arrangements for public footpaths traversing fields with cattle, particularly cows with calves, citing an unacceptable risk of trampling incidents. Further clarity is needed regarding rules for walkers with dogs on public rights of way.
Response (Wakefield Council): • Wakefield Council processed an application to divert public footpaths, making three Diversion Orders. • Wakefield Council referred the contested diversion order for the incident field to the Secretary of … (AI summary)
Response (Health and Safety Executive): • The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance to farmers on managing risks from cattle in fields with public access through its publication AIS17. • HSE enforces the Health … (AI summary)
Response (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs): • Defra stated it is committed to implementing rights of way reforms, including giving landowners the statutory right to apply for public path orders to permanently extinguish or divert footpaths … (AI summary)
Overdue
James Scott
Concerns: The coroner noted the area was a known flood risk and that insufficient gully maintenance might have contributed to surface water on the road. Concerns were also raised about the use of only a temporary flood warning sign in a persistently flood-prone location.
Response (National Highway Agency): • National Highways completed a drainage flood risk site visit on 31 August 2024, which involved clearing vegetation and jetting gullies. • The M3 Junction 9 improvement scheme has assumed … (AI summary)
Overdue
Maureen Gilbert
Concerns: The coroner noted that flood risk reduction options for Tapton Terrace, identified following 2007 flood damage, were not implemented due to cost, leaving the area vulnerable and posing a risk to residents' lives.
Response (Derbyshire County Council): • Derbyshire County Council is exploring the feasibility of removing an access bridge over the River Rother to reduce flood risk, requiring collaboration with the Environment Agency. • The Council … (AI summary)
Response (Environment Agency): • The Environment Agency proposes to undertake a further study (Strategic Outline Case) in 2026 to reassess flood defence options at Tapton Terrace under new appraisal and funding rules. • … (AI summary)
Response (Department for Environment Food Rural Affairs): • The Department indicated that a new Strategic Outline Case for flood defence options at Tapton Terrace would be undertaken in 2026. • The Environment Agency is leading the appraisal … (AI summary)
Responded
Select committee recommendations(86)— showing 50 strongest matches
#24 —
Recommendation: Natural England’s new Protected Sites Strategy approach should be extended to all protected sites in an ‘unfavourable’ condition. These strategies should include a time-bound action plan for restoring its condition in line with the environmental principles policy statement. (Paragraph 98) …
Response attribution not verified
#22 —
Recommendation: The condition of protected areas in the UK has a direct impact on development. When not maintained, their poor condition can cause an immediate halt in housebuilding. Statutory bodies and others have known about the poor state of some protected …
Response attribution not verified
#24 —
Recommendation: Publicly owned heritage assets are too often allowed to deteriorate, with responsibility spread across departments, weak compliance with existing protocols and no effective mechanism to enforce minimum standards. While the government has acknowledged the need to improve oversight, this must …
Response status not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: Over the period 2019–20 to 2023–24, the Environment Agency’s annual accounts were qualified five times in succession because it could not accurately account for its flood management assets.27 However, the agency recently received a clean audit opinion for its 2024–25 …
Response attribution not verified
#35 —
Recommendation: The Government should review the institutional arrangements for community engagement in flood risk management, to identify best practice and opportunities for more effective approaches. The Government should also commit to ensuring that risk management authorities are resourced and supported to …
Response attribution not verified
#6 —
Recommendation: It is critical that the considerable outlay of public money through the Government’s £5.2 billion capital investment in flood defences is not wasted through a failure to adequately resource the maintenance of new and existing assets. We are concerned Flooding …
Response attribution not verified
#16 —
Recommendation: The Agency explained that on-going maintenance costs are increasing for three main reasons. First, as a result of more extreme weather due to climate change, both more extreme flooding and more extreme droughts. Second, some flood defences in England are …
Response attribution not verified
#23 — Deteriorating asset condition poses acute risks, impeding hazard reduction and future site operations.
Recommendation: We explored with the witnesses the implications of assets’ condition for Sellafield Ltd’s plans to address hazards and clean up the site by 2125 and identified four areas of particular concern. Firstly – poor availability of assets has impeded Sellafield …
Response attribution not verified
#4 — Require Sellafield Ltd to explain actions addressing deteriorating asset condition and maintenance team productivity.
Recommendation: The failure of the Replacement Analytical Project illustrates the need to improve asset management at Sellafield. Sellafield is frequently in a race against time to complete work before assets (such as buildings or equipment) reach the end of their life …
Response attribution not verified
#12 — 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#11 — Absence of comprehensive record of flood resilience assets limits strategic management.
Recommendation: 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, …
Response attribution not verified
#37 — Embed nature-based solutions into national flood resilience strategy by 2027 and mandate SuDS.
Recommendation: As recommended in our Flooding Resilience report, nature-based solutions are highly effective and underutilised in protecting England’s properties from flooding. The Government should embed nature-based solutions as a core component of national flood resilience strategy by 2027 and make Sustainable …
Response attribution not verified
#13 — Initiate consultation on statutory requirements for assessing cumulative impacts of development on flood risk.
Recommendation: We reiterate that the Government should ensure that flood and climate resilience are embedded into the core tools of planning, regulation, and investment appraisal. The NPPF should be strengthened to prioritise flooding avoidance and climate adaptation, mandating sustainable drainage systems …
Response attribution not verified
#12 — Planning system fails to account for cumulative development impacts on flood risk.
Recommendation: As our recent report on flood resilience stated, the planning system fails to account for the cumulative and cross-boundary impacts of development on flood risk. Land use decisions are often made in isolation, without considering downstream consequences, catchment-scale dynamics, or …
Response attribution not verified
#2 — Government social housing plans do not address systemic drivers of poor conditions.
Recommendation: We support the Government’s plans to raise the standard of social homes over the next decade, while boosting supply. These actions will go some way to improving the quality and safety of social homes. However, the Government’s plans do not …
Response attribution not verified
#21 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the DCMS initiate formal discussions with HM Treasury on the impact of VAT on heritage repair and reuse. The government should introduce targeted VAT relief for maintenance and conversion of listed heritage buildings. This could include reducing …
Response status not verified
#20 —
Recommendation: The current VAT regime creates a structural disincentive to repair, maintain and reuse historic buildings. Sector bodies have told us that changes, such as rebate schemes or equalisation with new-build rates, could unlock stalled housing schemes, prevent managed decline and …
Response status not verified
#19 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the government ensures that overall funding available through the Places of Worship Renewal Fund is at least as generous in real terms as the level of support provided through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme prior …
Response status not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: The deterioration of heritage assets represents a major missed opportunity. Their significant potential to support economic growth and tourism is being systematically constrained by a combination of financial, structural and policy pressures. Without a more coherent and proactive approach, increasing …
Response status not verified
#5 —
Recommendation: The Environment Agency should facilitate this by keeping a record of schemes that are unable to proceed due to being unable to secure adequate partnership contributions, including a quantification of the losses in flood resilience that result.
Response attribution not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: We welcome the doubling of investment in flood defences announced at Budget 2020, amounting to £5.2 billion over the next six years. It is vital that measures to address the growing, long-term, flood and coastal risk in the face of …
Response attribution not verified
#17 —
Recommendation: The Agency is already seeing the impacts of climate change through the increasing strain on existing flood defences. In March 2020, the government gave the Agency £120 million to repair the defences damaged in the 2019–20 winter floods. At that …
Response attribution not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (the Department) and the Environment Agency (the Agency) on managing flood risks.1
Response attribution not verified
#8 —
Recommendation: Despite the known risks, there are still plans to build houses on flood plains. While government policy is not to build on flood plains unless unavoidable, the Agency’s analysis indicates that there could be a large increase – of up …
Response attribution not verified
#7 —
Recommendation: We are not convinced that the Department has yet done enough to address the difficulties those recently flooded have in getting affordable insurance. Some people who have recently been flooded still face difficulties in obtaining affordable insurance. The Department states …
Response attribution not verified
#13 —
Recommendation: Past FCERM funding arrangements have limited support for coastal management by relying on narrow benefit assessments that overlook wider, nonmonetised risks from coastal erosion and the existential pressures facing coastal communities and industries. We welcome the Government’s intention to incorporate …
Response attribution not verified
#11 —
Recommendation: Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) are not consistently integrated into Local Plans, resulting in planning decisions that do not account for future coastalchange risks. The mismatch between Local Plan timescales and the longerterm horizons of SMPs could lead to developments being …
Response attribution not verified
#3 —
Recommendation: The estate agent and conveyancing processes fail to reliably identify or disclose coastal erosion and landslide risks, leaving homebuyers without vital information. This is unacceptable given that clear risk data is already publicly available through tools such as National Coastal …
Response attribution not verified
#1 —
Recommendation: Coastal erosion and landslides have profound and far reaching consequences for individuals, families, and communities. While the physical loss of homes, buildings, and infrastructure is visible and measurable, the broader human and social impacts are equally severe but are not …
Response attribution not verified
#10 — Environment Agency failed to meet reduced asset condition target, increasing flood risk for 203,000 properties.
Recommendation: The Agency has not been able to reach even the 94.5% level. In summer 2023, only 93.5% of the Agency’s high consequence assets were at the required condition.14 203,000 7 Q 65; C&AG’s Report, para 11 8 Q 65 9 …
Response attribution not verified
#8 — Environment Agency targets 98% of high consequence flood defence assets at required condition.
Recommendation: The Agency is responsible for maintaining existing flood defence assets that it owns. Its modelling showed that it is best value for money to have 98% of its high consequence assets at required condition. Timely maintenance is important because if …
Response attribution not verified
#1 — Public Accounts Committee scrutinised Defra and Agency's flood risk management and defence assets.
Recommendation: On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency (the Agency) about their long-term ambition and objectives for flood risk, …
Response attribution not verified
#6 — Write to Committee within 12 months on Flood Re closure implications and transition plan.
Recommendation: We are concerned that Flood Re is not providing the protection that was envisaged and that 2039 will likely be too soon to close down the Flood Re scheme given the increasing risk from flooding and slower progress on protecting …
Response attribution not verified
#22 — Increasing maintenance backlog and unknown asset conditions negatively impact Sellafield operations.
Recommendation: There is an increasing backlog of maintenance tasks at Sellafield which is affecting the condition of Sellafield’s assets. Sellafield Ltd could not carry out some tasks during the COVID–19 pandemic due to restrictions on working practices to prevent transmission of …
Response attribution not verified
#21 — Sellafield's century-long decommissioning plan faces urgent race against ageing assets.
Recommendation: The NDA told us that its plan for decommissioning Sellafield will take around a hundred years, and has three phases. The current phase, focussing on ‘minimising the risk of offsite consequences’ will last until approximately the 2060s; in the next …
Response attribution not verified
#7 — Magnox Swarf Storage Silo's radioactive leak persists, with emptying delayed significantly until 2054-2059.
Recommendation: We heard from the NDA that the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo is “the most hazardous building in the UK”. It has been leaking radioactive water into the ground since 2018–we calculated, at current rates, enough to fill an Olympic–size swimming …
Response attribution not verified
#26 — 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#16 — Resilience must become a central organising principle for all public investment.
Recommendation: 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 …
Response attribution not verified
#19 — Defence estate accommodation, particularly at RAF Marham, remains inadequate and outdated
Recommendation: The Department accepted that accommodation at RAF Marham is not good enough, reflecting wider problems within the Defence estate, more than half of which is over 50 years old. The Department told us that it had identified the need for …
Response attribution not verified
#5 — Publish a 10-year plan for Weybridge redevelopment, detailing progress, interim risks, and mitigation
Recommendation: The Department has secured vital funding for the National Biosecurity Centre at Weybridge, but must manage significant interim risks until the redevelopment is completed in 10 years. The Weybridge facility is a critical national asset for managing threats from animal …
Response attribution not verified
#22 —
Recommendation: We recommend that the government reform VAT rules applying to the repurposing of existing buildings to remove the current disincentive to investment and to support national carbon reduction objectives. The new rules should replace the narrow and complex 5% reduced-rate …
Response status not verified
#12 —
Recommendation: The agency told us there have been considerable additional benefits from improving management of its flood asset base. For example, it can now group assets together to better understand how they interact with each other, and more accurately forecast levels …
Response status not verified
#4 —
Recommendation: While we acknowledge the great value of partnership contributions from public sources, it is obvious that private sector investment is too low (as the Government has implicitly accepted), and this could contribute to uncertainty about whether schemes will be deliverable. …
Response attribution not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: The government has a record of providing the Agency with long-term capital funding settlements, with two six-year settlements covering 2015–16 to 2020–21 and 2021–22 to 2026–27. However, the Agency only has a revenue funding settlement covering the next financial year …
Response attribution not verified
#2 —
Recommendation: Scarce local authority resources and low levels of private sector investment are barriers to the effective management of flood risks, especially given the impact of Covid-19. Lead local flood authorities (unitary authorities or county councils) are responsible for managing local …
Response attribution not verified
#14 —
Recommendation: In its response, Defra should provide a plan setting out how wider nonmonetised benefits for coastal erosion projects will be incorporated into the reformed FCERM funding model. This plan should: 22 a. Specify the benefits to be included in the …
Response attribution not verified
#12 —
Recommendation: The Environment Agency should work with MHCLG to strengthen the role of SMPs within Local Plans and use the ongoing Local Plan reforms to establish a statutory requirement for coastal planning authorities to incorporate SMPs as a core part of …
Response attribution not verified
#10 —
Recommendation: When the CTAP pilot concludes in 2027, Defra should move away from a selective piloting approach. In its response to this report, it should commit to establishing a longterm national strategy that provides financial assistance and relocation support for properties …
Response attribution not verified
#9 —
Recommendation: Innovative adaptation measures, including property purchase and relocation schemes, have been successfully piloted through the Coastal Change Pathfinder and the ongoing Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP). However, these benefits remain confined to selected pilot areas for a limited period, and …
Response attribution not verified
#8 —
Recommendation: Defra should commit to reviewing the current 2009 property purchase qualifying date and value of the Coastal Erosion Assistance Grant (CEAG) and, by June 2026, launch a structured assessment of whether this threshold and available grant remain justified. This review …
Response attribution not verified
NAO audit recommendations(2)
Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24
completing the drive towards a more stable, accurate and complete asset management dataset with data update reliably embedded in business as usual processes for asset management
Accepted
Environment Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24
continuing the Environment Agency?s rolling valuation programme for land and buildings, building in recent learnings and ensuring that reliable records are kept of the 5-year rolling programme
Accepted
IMB individual recommendations(4)
Ford (2025)
As we have reported for some years, the building infrastructure across Ford is failing, with each occurrence being addressed with short-term fixes, which, in the long run, cost the taxpayer more. Will the Minister commit to both undertaking a detailed survey and investigation of the existing fabric and services and to setting out a clear timetable for the development and …
Ministry of Justice
Partially Accepted
Brinsford (2023)
Further controls are required to the boilers to combat surge protection and to stop the failure to reset across all boilers.
Ministry of Justice
Erlestoke (2021)
When will the units be replaced?
HMPPS
In Progress
Ford (2025)
As we have reported for some years, the building infrastructure across Ford is failing, with each occurrence being addressed with short-term fixes, which, in the long run, cost the taxpayer more. Will HMPPS commit to undertaking a detailed survey and investigation of the existing fabric and services, and to setting out a clear timetable for the development and delivery of …
HMPPS
Partially Accepted
Independent reviews(17)
Cunliffe Water Commission — Rec 67
Recommendation 67: The UK and Welsh Governments should strengthen the requirements on companies to map and assess the health of their assets, and the regulator should ensure metrics for asset health are sufficiently forward-looking.
Other
Cunliffe Water Commission — Rec 19
Recommendation 19: The regulator should ensure funding directed appropriately to maintain assets by clearly defining and ring-fencing base capital expenditure (capital maintenance), base operational expenditure and enhancement capital expenditure allowances. This applies to England and Wales.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 25
The Environment Agency should maintain its existing risk-based approach to levels of maintenance and this should be supported by published schedules of works for each local authority area.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 22
As part of the forthcoming and subsequent water industry pricing reviews, Ofwat should give appropriate priority to proposals for investment in the existing sewerage network to deal with increasing flood risk.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 21
Defra should work with Ofwat and the water industry to explore how appropriate risk-based standards for public sewerage systems can be achieved.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 20
The Government should resolve the issue of which organisations should be responsible for the ownership and maintenance of sustainable drainage systems.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 16
Local authorities should collate and map the main flood risk management and drainage assets (over and underground), including a record of their ownership and condition.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 9
Householders should no longer be able to lay impermeable surfaces as of right on front gardens and the Government should consult on extending this to back gardens and business premises.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 2
The Environment Agency should be a national overview of all flood risk, including surface water and groundwater flood risk, with immediate effect.
Other
Cunliffe Water Commission — Rec 68
Recommendation 68: The regulator's oversight of infrastructure resilience and asset health should be strengthened, under its supervisory approach. This should include the appointment of a Chief Engineer on the board of the regulator in England and Wales respectively.
Other
Corry Defra Regulation Review — Rec 23
Proposed nature-based solution (NBS), such as wetland mosaics for flood alleviation, currently go through full planning permission, equivalent to major infrastructure, which increases time and cost. Defra should conduct a six-month sprint, with industry, on removing the barriers to using NBS to flooding and pollution including planning, benefit-to-cost ratios, orders …
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 58
The Government should implement the legislative changes proposed in the Environment Agency biennial report on dam and reservoir safety through the forthcoming flooding legislation.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 57
The Government should provide Local Resilience Forums with the inundation maps for both large and small reservoirs to enable them to assess risks and plan for contingency, warning and evacuation and the outline maps be made available to the public online as part of wider flood risk information.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 52
In the short-term, the Government and infrastructure operators should work together to build a level of resilience into critical infrastrucure assets that ensures continuity during a worst-case flood event.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 51
Relevant government departments and the Environment Agency should work with infrastructure operators to identify the vulnerability and risk of assets to flooding and a summary of the analysis should be published in Sector Resilience Plans.
Other
Pitt Floods Review — Rec 7
There should be a presumption against building in high flood risk areas, in accordance with PPS25, including giving consideration to all sources of flood risk, and ensuring that developers make a full contribution to the costs both of building and maintaining any necessary defences.
Other
Cunliffe Water Commission — Rec 9
Recommendation 9: The UK and Welsh governments should update and reform the UWWTR 1994 to deliver better outcomes and a more sustainable approach to drainage and wastewater management. This should involve reporting on whether an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme is needed for the water sector to fund necessary improvements.
Other
LGO / SPSO decisions(170)
21-012-620 — North Yorkshire County Council
Summary: Mr X complains about the Council’s decision not to carry out road drainage works to prevent flooding at his property. We will not investigate the complaint because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jan 2022
21-013-614 — Surrey County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the mishandling and mismanagement of flood issues at a surface water outlet near the complainant’s home. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The complaint is late …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Feb 2022
21-008-142 — Kent County Council
Summary: Mr X complains about the way the Council responded to and dealt with his reports of flooding at his property caused by a blocked drain near to his home. We found no evidence of fault in the way the Council responded to Mr X’s concerns about the blocked drain. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Upheld
Mar 2022
20-014-236 — North Yorkshire County Council
Summary: Mrs D complained the Council, in its role as a Lead Flood Authority, failed to take enforcement action against her neighbour for works to his garden which impacted their underground drainage system. As a result, she said she experienced distress due to flooding of her garden and risk of …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
May 2022
22-000-217 — North Yorkshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about Council liability for the regular flooding of Mr X’s property which takes place. This is because Mr X has a legal remedy against the Council which we would reasonably expect him to use and so places the complaint outside our jurisdiction.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
May 2022
23-021-432 — Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about work carried out by the Council which Mr X says has led to more frequent flooding of an area which sits against his retaining wall. This is because Mr X has a court remedy available against the Council which places the complaint …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2024
23-021-299 — Lincolnshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about damage to the complainant’s property which he says occurred due to the Council’s failure to maintain public drains. This is because the Council deny legal responsibility and the complainant could reasonably take court action to achieve his desired outcome. The courts are …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2024
23-020-961 — Ely Internal Drainage Board
Summary: Mr X complained the Internal Drainage Board has not responded to his concerns that he has potentially been incorrectly charged a levy on agricultural land. We found the Internal Drainage Board at fault for how it handled the matter. To remedy the injustice caused the Internal Drainage Board agreed …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Sep 2024
24-017-111 — City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Summary: Mrs B complained that the Council has not taken enforcement action when a neighbouring landowner failed to do work to alleviate flood risk to Mrs B’s property. The Council investigated the issue and paid for contractors to find the solution. It then properly considered whether to take enforcement action …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Not Upheld
Aug 2025
201300513 — Argyll and Bute Council
Mr C's home was regularly affected by flooding. Mr C complained that this was due to an inadequate road drainage system. He said that the council had accepted this, but although they had committed in 2012 to resolve the problem, no work had been carried out. The council said they …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Upheld
May 2015
201203283 — The Highland Council
Mr and Mrs C complained to us that the council had failed to take reasonable action in response to their concerns about flooding at properties that belonged to their son and daughter. They said that the council had failed to meet their duties under the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Local Government
Not Upheld
Sep 2015
PSOW-202102459 — Isle of Anglesey County Council
Mr A complained that the Isle of Anglesey County Council refused to take responsibility for damage caused to his property as a result of drainage works it undertook to alleviate the risk of internal flooding to properties in the vicinity of Mr A’s home address. The Ombudsman found that the …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
May 2022
PSOW-202309798 — Flintshire County Council
Miss J complained that she had not received a response from Flintshire County Council to a complaint she raised about flooding outside her home. The Ombudsman found there had been a delay in responding to the complaint. She felt this caused additional frustration and inconvenience to Miss J. She decided …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Apr 2024
21-006-542 — South Somerset District Council
Summary: Mrs B complains about the Council’s decision to allow a planning application in her local area. She says the Council did not have due regard to established planning policy. Further, Mrs B says approval of the application is likely to increase the risk of flooding in her local area. …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Feb 2022
21-015-448 — Environment Agency
Summary: We cannot investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Environment Agency (EA) delaying in dealing with an application for a domestic sewage permit. Our jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the EA does not include the subject of Mr X’s complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Feb 2022
20-012-785 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: There was fault by the Council in its communications with Mr X regarding flooding to his property. The Council agreed a remedy.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Feb 2022
21-002-284 — Darlington Borough Council
Summary: Mr B complained that in approving planning applications for development near his property, the Council failed to properly assess the impact on surface water drainage and potential flooding of nearby properties including his. We have not found fault with the Council’s actions.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
Feb 2022
21-001-582 — Dorset Council
Summary: Mrs B complains the Council has not taken enforcement action against a neighbouring development. Mrs B says the Council did not properly consider her complaints about flood risk and occupation of the site before the completion of a drainage system. The Ombudsman finds fault in how the Council completed …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Upheld
Feb 2022
22-000-847 — Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council failed to properly deal with blocked drains which resulted in flood damage to the complainants property. This is because it is reasonable for him to seek a claim of liability through the courts.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2022
22-003-167 — Kent County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about water from the Council’s highway damaging his wall. The core of the complaint is an issue of legal liability for the claimed property damage. We cannot decide such liability claims. The Council’s insurers have rejected Mr X’s claim, so the only …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2022
22-005-099 — Medway Council
Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about the Council’s failure to prevent flooding from a stream next to the public highway. There is no evidence to suggest that Mrs X could not have complained to us sooner.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Jul 2022
22-004-724 — Buckinghamshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about how the Council has managed the flood risks associated with a major infrastructure project. This is because the injustice that Mr X describes, is a matter for the courts. Other elements of Mr X’s complaint are premature.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2022
22-006-573 — South Holland District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about failure to take enforcement action which the complainants say caused flooding at their property. We cannot decide liability or award compensation for damages. It is reasonable to expect the complainant to claim compensation in court.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Oct 2022
22-010-247 — Lancashire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about damage caused to his car when he had an accident on a flooded road. This is because this is a complaint about negligence which is a legal matter for the courts to consider and decide. The Ombudsman cannot decide a negligence …
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Nov 2022
22-011-646 — Environment Agency
Summary: We will not exercise discretion to investigate this complaint about damage to the complainant’s home and garden caused by flood alleviation works over the past years. This complaint was received outside the normal 12-month period for investigating complaints. There is no evidence to suggest that Miss X could not …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2022
23-019-313 — Essex County Council
Summary: The complainant (Mr X) complained about the Council’s failure to take effective action to unblock the ditch next to his property and about the Council’s inadequate communication. We found fault with the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Upheld
Aug 2024
25-000-053 — Peterborough City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council did not follow planning guidance and failed to carry out a proper flood risk assessment. This is because the complainant is complaining on behalf of a Parish Council and not as a member of the public.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Apr 2025
201200888 — Scottish Water
Mr C's garden was contaminated when a blocked sewer overflowed. In the process of clearing up other gardens, further contamination was washed into Mr C's garden. Mr C said he was not properly notified of the contamination or the risk to his health. He complained that the clean-up of his …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Water
Partly Upheld
Dec 2012
24-020-692 — Middlesbrough Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to damage, caused by flooding, to Mrs X’s property. Mrs X has an alternative legal remedy through the courts who can decide liability. And given the circumstances of her complaint, it would be reasonable to expect her to use …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jan 2026
PSOW-202106399 — Flintshire County Council
Mr A & Ms B complained about flooding at their home which they said was caused by an adjacent supermarket car park (and contributed to by run off water from neighbouring properties). They believed that the Council had owned the land upon which the car park was constructed, and so …
PSOW (Public Services Om…
Local Government
Mar 2022
21-014-182 — Suffolk County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to highway flooding near his home. There is insufficient evidence of fault which would warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Jan 2022
22-000-620 — Hastings Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage. This is because the court is better placed to deal with the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2022
21-018-328 — Scarborough Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to take enforcement action against a nuisance reported by Mr X. This is because an investigation is unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
May 2022
20-005-361 — Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Summary: The complainants say the Council failed to act when a developer for three different sites built up the site levels which created additional flooding. Part of the complaint is outside the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction. There is no fault by the Council in the remainder of the complaint.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Not Upheld
May 2022
22-003-863 — Devon County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council has failed to properly clear a blocked culvert which has caused flooding on to Ms X’s property. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2022
22-006-584 — Wokingham Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council failing to regularly maintain the drainage structures near Mr X’s property. This is because an investigation would not lead to a different outcome and we cannot achieve the outcome Mr X wants.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2022
22-006-557 — Hampshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s handling of matters relating to the classification of a watercourse. This is because an investigation by the Ombudsman cannot determine who owns or is responsible for the watercourse.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Sep 2022
22-005-133 — Coventry City Council
Summary: Ms B complains about the Council’s decision to make changes that would increase traffic on her road. She says this will increase pollution and noise and cause flooding. The Ombudsman does not find fault in how the Council reached its decision.
LGO (Local Government & …
Transport And Highways
Not Upheld
Oct 2022
22-009-726 — Northumberland County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about ownership of a blocked drain beneath the pavement outside the complainant’s home. It is reasonable for the complainant to seek a decision from the courts about ownership of the land and consequent responsibility for the drain.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2022
22-008-029 — Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint that the Council are responsible for flooding to the complainant’s property. This is because this is a matter for insurers and then the courts, and because the complaint is made late. Regarding other issues raised, they are either late, better dealt with by …
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Dec 2022
22-011-535 — Durham County Council
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint the Council failed to enable his business to get suitable traffic access, and the Commission for New Towns allowed land to be developed which caused flooding on his land in the 1980s and 1990s. The complaint about the Council is late and …
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Dec 2022
23-018-189 — Babergh District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to approve a flood bund conditioned by planning permission for a housing development close to Mr X’s home. This is because the complaint is a late complaint and so outside our jurisdiction.
LGO (Local Government & …
Planning
Mar 2024
24-000-189 — Mole Valley District Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage because the courts and insurers are better placed to consider the issue.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Apr 2024
23-014-846 — Environment Agency
Summary: We cannot investigate this complaint about how the Environment Agency dealt with reports of a leaking septic tank. We have no jurisdiction to consider the matters complained about.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2024
24-020-087 — Essex County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a flood risk rating because there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Mar 2025
25-001-183 — Nottinghamshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s publication of a report on flooding following a storm in Mr X’s area in 2024. The courts are better placed to consider whether the report was negligent in the way the data was reported.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Jul 2025
24-012-132 — Shropshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about drainage because we could not add to any previous investigation by the organisation and further investigation would not lead to a different outcome.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Aug 2025
24-008-462 — Salford City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s reports of water ingress into his property. This is because we are unlikely to find evidence of fault by the Council sufficient to warrant an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & …
Environment And Regulation
Oct 2024
201104070 — Scottish Water
Mr C complained about Scottish Water's response when there was sewage flooding outside his home. Our investigation found that there had been problems with a sewage pumping station that had contributed to the flooding outside Mr C's home. In response to this, Scottish Water had installed new bigger pumps, lowered …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Water
Partly Upheld
Apr 2013
201104832 — Scottish Water
Mr C complained on behalf of a neighbour (Ms A) that Scottish Water's actions in respect of flooding were unreasonable. He said that Scottish Water had accepted that there was water coming in under Ms A's property, but had said that there was no evidence this was caused by their …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se…
Water
Partly Upheld
Aug 2013