Understanding the risks,
empowering communities,
building resilience
National flood and coastal erosion risk
management strategy for England
Summary strategy
Published by:
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Environment Agency
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GEHO0711BTZE-E-E July 2011
14668 NFS Corr Slip / Sig: 1 / Plate A
Co-operation and requesting information in flood and coastal erosion risk
management: statutory guidance on the implementation of the Flood and
Water Management Act 2010 sections 13(1) and 14 in England
September 2011
LONDON: THE STATIONERY OFFICE
Session: 2010-2012
Unnumbered Act Paper
Laid before Parliament 23/05/11
CORRECTION
Correction required for the inside front page. The correction regards the power the
guidance is issued under.
A correction from:
Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 13(1) and 14 of the Flood and Water
Management Act 2010.
A correction to:
Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 7 of the Flood and Water Management Act
2010.
A correction to:
Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 7 of the Flood and Water Management Act
2010.
A correction from:
Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 13(1) and 14 of the Flood and Water
Management Act 2010.
Correction required for the inside front page. The correction regards the power the
guidance is issued under.
CORRECTION
Session: 2010-2012
Unnumbered Act Paper
Laid before Parliament 23/05/11
September 2011
LONDON: THE STATIONERY OFFICE
Co-operation and requesting information in flood and coastal erosion risk
management: statutory guidance on the implementation of the Flood and
Water Management Act 2010 sections 13(1) and 14 in England
14668 NFS Corr Slip / Sig: 1 / Plate A
About this
summary
‘Flooding and coastal erosion can
have a devastating impact on
communities. Whilst we cannot
fully tame the forces of nature we
can better understand the risks we
face, and make ourselves more
resilient as a society.’
Richard Benyon MP,
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
‘It’s something I’d never ever want
to repeat again [... I] can’t explain
it, you just go through so many
emotions, so many unknowns.’
Eyewitness from Cockermouth, flooded in 2009.
(Source: Environment Agency ‘Response to flooding’
TNS-BMRB report, July 2010)
When flooding happens, or part of our coastline suddenly erodes, it is
destructive and distressing. But we are not helpless. We can all play a
role as individuals, or as part of a community or organisation, to
manage these risks and lessen their impact.
This document provides a summary of the National flood and coastal
erosion risk management strategy for England. It explains what the
strategy is and which organisations need to work together to achieve
its aims. It will also help you understand the issues, how the risks of
flooding and coastal erosion will be managed in the future, and
specifically what you can do in your local area (see section 5 and 6).
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
3
1. What is the strategy?
In England in 2009, around 5.2 million - that’s one in six - residential
and commercial properties were identified as being in areas at risk of
flooding from rivers, the sea and surface water. In addition,
approximately 200 properties are vulnerable to coastal erosion at
present, with 2,000 predicted to become vulnerable over the next 20
years. Around 1.1 million properties are in areas that would be at risk
of flooding if a nearby reservoir failed.
It is not possible to prevent all flooding or coastal erosion but, working with communities,
together we can take action to manage these risks and reduce their impact. Evidence
suggests that in future the damages caused by flooding and coastal erosion in England are
likely to increase unless they are effectively managed. This could be, for example, because
of climate change, sea-level rise and new development in areas at risk of flooding or
erosion.
The Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra) have published a National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy
for England to ensure that government, the Environment Agency, local authorities, water
companies, internal drainage boards and other organisations that have a role in flood
and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) understand each others’ roles and
co-ordinate how they manage these risks. This fulfils a requirement in the Flood and Water
Management Act 2010, which gave the Environment Agency a ‘strategic overview’ of flood
and coastal erosion risk management and in turn takes forward a recommendation from
Sir Michael Pitt’s inquiry into the 2007 floods.
The term ‘risk’ refers to a combination of the likelihood of floods or coastal erosion
occurring and the consequences that can happen when they do occur. The national
strategy sets out what needs to be done to manage these risks by improving our
understanding of them, reducing the likelihood of incidents happening, as well as
managing the potential consequences to people, businesses, infrastructure and services.
Using the strategy, all the organisations listed above will work together with communities to:
• manage the risk of flooding and coastal erosion to people and their property.
Over time, we will be able, where possible, to improve standards of protection.
• help householders, businesses and communities better understand and
manage the flood and coastal erosion risks they face.
• respond better to flood incidents and during recovery, and to coastal erosion.
• move the focus from national government-funded activities towards a new
approach that gives more power to local people, either at an individual,
community or local authority level. Local innovations and solutions will be
encouraged, too.
• invest in actions that benefit communities who face the greatest risk, but who
are least able to afford to help themselves.
• put sustainability at the heart of the actions we take, so that we work with
nature and benefit the environment, people and the economy.
The strategy’s overall aim is to ensure that flooding and coastal erosion risks
are well-managed and co-ordinated, so that their impacts are minimised.
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National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
2. What does managing flood and
coastal erosion risk mean? What
can be done?
What’s in a name? The Act uses a few terms as shorthand when talking
about groups of organisations or authorities who have similar roles or
activities. We’ve used them in this summary too. The main ones are:
Risk management authorities
This is a term used to describe the Environment Agency, lead local flood authorities,
district councils, internal drainage boards, water companies and highways authorities.
Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs)
These are county councils or unitary authorities.
We have said a bit more about their roles in section 7 of this document.
Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs)
Set up by the Environment Agency, these committees help develop and approve
programmes of work in their local area. The Environment Agency also provides advice
and expertise to help the committees in these decisions. The majority of members are
lead local flood authority councillors who have been democratically elected. The chairs
of each RFCC are appointed by the Secretary of State. RFCCs are able to raise money from local authorities to fund local priority projects and
work. They also help to review local authority risk assessments, maps and plans. They
will ensure plans are well co-ordinated with other FCERM authorities and, for example,
take the expected impacts of climate change into consideration.
The National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for
England stresses the need for risk to be managed in a co-ordinated
way across river catchments and along the coast, embracing the full
range of practical options and helping local decision-making.
The strategy helps bring together government and the authorities who are responsible for
managing these risks with the organisations, communities, and people who are at risk. In
summary, the strategy encourages them to work together to:
• know when and where flooding and coastal erosion is likely to happen. Risk
management authorities need to improve their understanding of the risks of
flooding and coastal erosion. They particularly need to develop a better
understanding of surface water and ground water flood risk.
• make sure that any flood and coastal risk management plans use the most
up-to-date information and raise awareness of these risks among affected
communities.
• reduce the chance of harm to people and damage to the economy, environment
and society by building, maintaining and improving flood and coastal erosion
management infrastructure and systems, where it is affordable to do so.
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
5
• help communities understand the risks and take action to manage them or
reduce the consequences - for example, by making their properties more
resilient or by adapting to coastal change.
• avoid inappropriate development in areas of flood and coastal erosion risk.
• improve the detection and forecasting of floods and how warnings are issued,
so that people, businesses and public services can take action, plan for and coordinate a rapid response to flood emergencies and promote faster recovery
from flooding.
• take opportunities to work with and enhance communities, services and the
natural environment.
There are many ways you can get involved too. Read section 5, What you can do to manage
the risk of flood and coastal erosion where you live and work, for more information.
Understand the risks
Improve flood prediction,
warning and post-flood recovery
Manage the likelihood
Flood and Coastal
Erosion Risk Management
Prevent inappropriate
development
Help people to manage
their own risk
Managing the risk of flooding and coastal erosion
Funding risk management
In May 2011, Defra announced changes to the way flood and coastal defence projects
would be funded. In essence, instead of meeting the full cost of a limited number of
schemes, a new partnership approach to funding could make government money
available to pay a share of any worthwhile scheme. The amount in each case will
depend on the level of benefits the scheme provides. For example, the number of
households protected, or the amount of damage that can be prevented.
The level of government funding potentially available towards each scheme can be
easily calculated. Local authorities and communities can then decide on priorities and
what to do if full funding isn’t available. Projects can still go ahead if costs can be
reduced or other funding can be found locally.
For more detailed information, please visit Defra’s website: www.defra.gov.uk.
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National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
3. What does the strategy cover?
Floods can happen anywhere at any time, caused by rising groundwater
levels, sudden rain running off hillsides and overwhelming drains, as
well as flooding from rivers and the sea. Even if you live miles away
from the coast or a river, there’s still a chance flooding could affect you.
The most common sources of flooding include:
• River flooding. This occurs when a river or stream cannot cope with the water
draining into it from the surrounding land – for example, when heavy rain falls
on ground that is already waterlogged.
• Coastal flooding. This results when there are high tides and stormy conditions.
If low atmospheric pressure coincides with a high tide, a ‘tidal surge’ may
happen causing higher than normal sea levels that may go over the top of
defences.
• Surface water flooding. This occurs, for example, when rainwater does not
drain away through the normal drainage system or soak into the ground, but
lies on or flows over the ground instead. This type of flooding can be difficult to
predict and pinpoint, much more so than river or coastal flooding.
• Sewer flooding. This can happen when sewers are overwhelmed by heavy
rainfall or when they become blocked. The chance of flooding depends on the
capacity of the local sewerage system and amount of rain that falls. Land and
property can be flooded with water contaminated with raw sewage as a result.
Rivers can also become polluted by sewers that overflow. The national strategy
only covers sewer flooding when it is wholly or partially caused by rainwater.
• Groundwater flooding. This occurs when levels of water in the ground rise
above the surface. It is most likely to happen in areas where the ground
contains aquifers. These are permeable rocks that water can soak into or pass
through.
• Reservoir flooding.Some reservoirs hold large volumes of water above ground
level, contained by walls or dams. Although the safety record for reservoirs in
England is excellent, it is still possible that a dam could fail. This would result in
a large volume of water being released very quickly.
Coastal erosion is a natural process caused by wind and wave action
wearing away the land. Tidal currents, winds and waves all wear the
land away and carry sediment elsewhere, either further along the coast
or offshore. Coastal erosion usually happens very slowly over time, but
if a cliff becomes unstable, erosion can happen very suddenly.
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
7
4. Who is taking action to manage
these risks?
Flood risk management
If you are flooded, the last thing on your mind is what ‘type’ of flooding you are
experiencing or where the water has come from. However, different authorities are
responsible for managing flood risk, depending on the source of the flooding and this is
set out below. The national strategy seeks to bring together everyone responsible so that
problems are tackled in a co-ordinated and effective way.
Flooding from main rivers, estuaries, the sea and reservoirs
2.4m
2.4 million properties are at risk of
flooding from rivers and the sea in
England. There are also risks to
national infrastructure, with over
55 per cent of water and sewage
pumping stations, 20 per cent of
railways, ten per cent of major
roads, 14 per cent of electricity and
28 per cent of gas infrastructure
located in areas at risk of flooding.
(Source: Environment Agency, 2009. Flooding in
England: a national assessment of flood risk)
The Environment Agency is responsible for managing the flood risk from main rivers,
estuaries and the sea. Main rivers are normally large river channels. Look at the
Environment Agency’s flood maps
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/37837.aspx to see where the main
rivers in your area are located. The Environment Agency is responsible for building flood
defence schemes where funding is available, and works with LLFAs and local communities
to identify local priorities and shape schemes accordingly. It also ensures that reservoirs
with a storage capacity greater than 25,000m3 are properly managed.
The Environment Agency manages around 70 per cent (by length) of the defences used to
reduce the risk of river and coastal flooding in England. The remaining 30 per cent (referred
to as ‘third party assets’) are managed by local authorities, Internal Drainage Boards
(IDBs), individual land and property owners and businesses. Assets are structures used to
reduce the likelihood of flooding or coastal erosion and include maintained river channels,
raised embankments, floodwalls and seawalls, culverts and sustainable drainage systems
(SuDS). Often a number of assets will be used together to manage risk in a particular area,
working in combination within a risk management system. The Environment Agency uses
its strategic overview role to encourage owners to maintain their assets well. If at any time
there is a risk to the public from these assets, the Environment Agency can exercise its
emergency powers and make sure repairs are completed.
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National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
Flooding from surface water, groundwater and ‘ordinary’
watercourses
3.8 million properties are
susceptible to flooding from
surface water (i.e. rainwater,
including snow and other
precipitation, which is on the
surface of the ground and has not
yet entered the watercourse,
drainage system or public sewer).
3.8m
(Source: Environment Agency, 2009. Flooding in
England: a national assessment of flood risk)
County and unitary authorities have been given a new role as LLFAs, to manage local flood
risk (i.e. from surface water run-off, groundwater, and rivers or streams that are not main
rivers). LLFAs must plan for how flood risk will be managed in their area.
District councils have powers to manage flooding from ordinary watercourses (rivers or
streams that are not considered to be main rivers). They may arrange for this management
work to be carried out on their behalf by other organisations - for example, by IDBs (see
section 7 for more information).
Flooding from sewers and drains
The ten water and sewerage companies in England are responsible for managing the risks
of flooding from their surface water and foul or combined sewer systems. They do this by
investing in their sewer systems to minimise the risk to communities. Sometimes they do
this in partnership with others - for example, working with developers and landowners to
reduce the amount of rain that can fall into sewers through water storage, and SuDS.
Highways authorities have lead responsibility for providing and managing highway drainage
and roadside ditches under the Highways Act 1980 (see section 7 for further information).
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
9
Coastal erosion risk management
1,800km
Of the 4,500km of coast in
England, 1,800km is at risk of
coastal erosion (340km of which is
defended). It is estimated that 200
properties are currently vulnerable
to coastal erosion but by 2029, up
to 2,000 residential properties, and
15km of major road and railway
may become vulnerable.
(Source: Halcrow Group Ltd, 2009, Receptors
vulnerable to coastal erosion. Environment Agency)
Approximate figures.
Work to tackle coastal erosion (and also the risk of sea flooding) is done by district or
unitary councils in collaboration with the Environment Agency. They are known as coastal
erosion risk management authorities. They also have powers to protect land against
coastal erosion and to control third party activities on the coast. This includes constructing
private defences or removing beach material. Coastal groups, comprising members from
local authorities and other relevant organisations (such as Natural England, the
Environment Agency, Network Rail and English Heritage) form partnerships to look at
managing the coast from a more strategic perspective. They produce Shoreline
Management Plans (SMPs), which assess the risks from coastal flooding and erosion and
work out how to manage these risks over the short, medium and long term.
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National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
5. What can you do to manage the
risk of flooding or coastal erosion
where you live and work?
‘I think if you haven’t been flooded
then you think “it is not going to
happen to us” so you don’t bother
with it, but once you have been
flooded then you do think about it
happening in the future.’
(Cockermouth resident, quoted in the Environment
Agency ‘Response to flooding’ TNS-BMRB report,
July 2010)
If you live or work in an area at risk from either flooding or coastal
erosion, it is important that you understand the risks and what you
can do about them. Lead local flood authorities will carry out early
assessments of flood risk in their area by December 2011,
but here’s what you can do to be better prepared.
1. Find out if you are at risk
Being prepared for flooding could save your life and safeguard your property and
possessions.
• View the Environment Agency’s online flood map of rivers and the sea:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/37837.aspx
Using your postcode, you will be able to view your exact location and
the type of flood risk you face – low, moderate or significant.
• Information on coastal erosion is available in the Shoreline Management Plan
for your local area. The Environment Agency is working with local authorities to
make erosion risk information available online via a single portal.
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
11
2. Get prepared
Take action and don’t delay – flooding can happen at any time.
• Find out if you can sign up for Floodline Warnings Direct. This is a free service
provided by the Environment Agency in some areas. It provides automated
flood warnings by telephone, mobile, email, SMS text message or fax,
whichever you prefer. Visit the Environment Agency website:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/ or call Floodline on
0845 988 1188.
• Make a flood plan. Flood plans help you think about the actions you can take to
prepare your property and possessions for flooding. The Environment Agency
has developed three templates to help you prepare your business, home
and/or local community. You can download all three templates for free from the
Environment Agency website:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/
• Prepare your property for flooding. It’s impossible to completely flood-proof
your home, but there are lots of things you can do to reduce flood damage. Visit
the Environment Agency website: www.environmentagency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31644.aspx to download the leaflet,
Prepare your property for flooding, for advice on what to do. There’s also
information about flood protection products and services.
• Check whether your insurance covers flood damage. Flood insurance is
standard in most building and contents insurance policies, but make sure you
know how much cover you have and whether any exclusions apply.
‘Regular public meetings between
floods helped promote flood
resilience, both by delivering
information and advice into the
community and ensuring residents
remained vigilant to flood risk.
However, residents who had not
been flooded before were unlikely
to have attended public meetings.’
(Source: Environment Agency Response to flooding
TNS-BMRB report, July 2010)
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National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
3. Get involved
• Create or join a local flood or coastal action group (see section 6). For
information and support on how to set up your own flood action group, or to
find out about others in your local area, visit the National Flood Forum website
at www.floodforum.org.uk or contact them on 01743 741725. Flood action
groups can collectively engage with the relevant authorities, help explain
responsibilities and constraints to local communities and also express views to
local MPs and councillors.
• Take part if your community is consulted on local plans or flood alleviation
schemes. You could also form your own community flood action group and
develop a community plan to share with your local council. This can then inform
the council’s own plans right from the beginning.
• Find out if your local authority has secured funding for ways of protecting
properties (such as flood boards or air brick covers) by visiting the Environment
Agency website.
• Seek opportunities to get involved in local initiatives to protect your community
from flooding or help your community adapt to coastal change. (Visit Defra’s
website www.defra.gov.uk for more information on the new approach to
funding, which encourages local or private contributions towards schemes
so that more can be undertaken.)
4. Keep informed
Once you have the information you need, don’t forget to update your flood plan if you
move home or business premises, or your household circumstances change – for example,
someone else joins your household, or someone becomes ill or disabled. And regularly
check the websites listed above for updated information.
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
13
6. What role can community flood
and coastal groups play?
Today, around 490,000 properties
face a one in 75 or greater chance
(in any given year) of flooding from
rivers and the sea... by 2035 there
may be an additional 350,000
properties [at risk].
2035
2009
490,000
840,000
(Source: Environment Agency, 2009. Investing in the
future: flood and coastal risk management in
England, a long-term investment strategy)
There are many benefits in involving communities at risk in decisions
about what is needed where and at what cost. The national strategy
sets out this key role for community flood groups. Not only will they
continue to be a voice for their local area, but they will be able to
contribute directly to informing local FCERM strategies.
Contributing to FCERM strategies and plans
Community flood groups will be able to liaise with the national and local risk management
authorities to help convey the community perspective of flooding and coastal erosion.
They can do this by:
• taking part in any public consultations (for example, on any future local
strategies) and otherwise working closely with local authorities to ensure local
views and ideas inform their decisions (see section 5.3 ‘Get involved’).
• making sure they are represented in local flood risk management partnerships
(or equivalent) and community resilience initiatives, such as flood or coastal
action groups, preparing community flood action plans, or promoting
schemes to make properties more resilient to flooding, or helping the
community adapt to coastal erosion.
Raising awareness of FCERM within the community
As a trusted source of advice, community groups can also play an important role to help
local people and businesses understand and actively prepare for these risks. They can
also encourage them to get involved in local decision-making or help get projects off the
ground.
Defra, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the Environment
Agency, lead local flood authorities and coastal erosion risk management authorities
intend to work with community groups to help raise awareness and promote the actions
that people can take to reduce the impact that flooding and coastal erosion might have.
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National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
People can be encouraged to:
• carry out the actions outlined in section 5, ‘What you can do to manage the risk
of flooding or coastal erosion where you live and work’;
• take some practical steps such as putting up purpose-built flood boards in
doorways to prevent water seeping into property and causing damage;
• check the condition of any local flood and coastal erosion defences and
maintain any they own;
• maintain and look after rivers or streams where they own the adjoining land.
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
15
7. Who does what?
The strategy sets out in detail what government and certain authorities
or organisations do. Given below is a useful summary.
Government
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) develops FCERM policy
and is the lead Government department for flood and coastal erosion risk management in
England. New or revised policies are prepared with other parts of government such as the
Treasury, the Cabinet Office (for emergency response planning) and the Department for
Communities and Local Government (for land-use and planning policy). These national
policies then form the basis of the Environment Agency’s work.
Environment Agency
As national co-ordinator, the Environment Agency has a strategic overview of all sources of
flooding and coastal erosion (as defined in the Flood and Water Management Act 2010). It
is also responsible for flood and coastal erosion risk management activities on main rivers
and the coast, regulating reservoir safety, and working in partnership with the Met Office
to provide flood forecasts and warnings. It must also look for opportunities to maintain
and improve the environment for people and wildlife while carrying out all of its duties.
The Environment Agency’s work includes:
Developing long-term approaches to FCERM. This includes working with others to prepare
and carry out sustainable Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs) and Shoreline
Management Plans (SMPs). CFMPs address flood risk in each river catchment. SMPs
assess the risks of coastal flooding and erosion and propose ways to manage them. The
Environment Agency also collates and reviews assessments, maps and plans for local
flood risk management (normally undertaken by lead local flood authorities).
Providing evidence and advice to support others. This includes national flood and coastal
erosion risk information, data and tools to help other risk management authorities and
inform government policy, and advice on planning and development issues.
Working with others to share knowledge and the best ways of working. This includes work
to develop FCERM skills and resources. The Environment Agency brings together local
authorities, coastal groups and communities to share our combined knowledge, and
develop a sustainable framework so that the right actions are decided for each community.
Monitoring and reporting on flood and coastal erosion risk management. This includes
reporting on how the national FCERM strategy is having an impact across the country.
Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs)
As local co-ordinators, the Flood and Water Management Act directs LLFAs to:
• prepare and maintain a strategy for local flood risk management in their areas,
co-ordinating views and activity with other local bodies and communities
through public consultation and scrutiny, and delivery planning. To do this they
will need to work closely with Regional Flood and Coastal Committees (RFCCs);
• maintain a register of assets – these are physical features that have a
significant effect on flooding in their area;
• establish approval bodies for design, building and operation of Sustainable
Drainage Systems (SuDS);
16
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
• issue consents for altering, removing or replacing certain structures or features
on ordinary watercourses;
• play a lead role in emergency planning and recovery after a flood event.
LLFAs will need to work very closely with the Environment Agency and ensure that the
plans they are making link up with activity planned at a national level. An essential part
of managing local flood risk will be taking account of new development in any plans or
strategies.
If a flood happens, all local authorities are ‘category one responders’ under the Civil
Contingencies Act. This means they must have plans in place to respond to emergencies,
and control or reduce the impact of an emergency. LLFAs also have a new duty to
investigate flood incidents to help understand how they happened, their impacts, and
what action could help reduce future risks.
By working in partnership with communities, LLFAs can raise awareness of flood and
coastal erosion risks. Local flood action groups (and other organisations that represent
those living and working in areas at risk of flooding) will be useful and trusted channels for
sharing up-to-date information, guidance and support direct with the community.
LLFAs will help local communities participate in FCERM. Depending on local
circumstances, this could include developing and sharing good practice in risk
management, training community volunteers so that they can raise awareness of flood risk
in their community, and helping the community to prepare flood action plans.
Coastal erosion risk management authorities
Coastal local authorities will work alongside the Environment Agency to develop and
maintain coastal flood and erosion risk information. This will contribute to national
information maintained by the Environment Agency and promote understanding of these
risks. This will enable them to be taken into account in planning how to protect and
manage the coast.
Water companies
Water companies play a role in managing flood and coastal erosion risks, too. For
example, they manage the risk of flooding to water supply and sewerage facilities.
The main roles of water and sewerage companies in managing flood and coastal erosion
risks are to:
• make sure their systems have the appropriate level of resilience to flooding,
and maintain essential services during emergencies;
• maintain and manage their water supply and sewerage systems to manage the
impact of flooding and pollution to the environment;
• provide advice to LLFAs on how water and sewerage company assets impact on
local flood risk;
• work with developers, landowners and LLFAs to understand and manage risks for example, by working to manage the amount of rainfall that enters sewerage
systems;
• work with the Environment Agency, lead local flood authorities and district
councils to co-ordinate the management of water supply and sewerage systems
with other flood risk management work. They also need to have regard to
FCERM plans in their own plans and work.
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
17
Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs)
IDBs have an important role to play in flood risk management, and in creating and
managing natural habitats. Each IDB operates within a defined area, known as a drainage
district. They are made up of elected members who represent land occupiers, and others
nominated by local authorities who represent the public and other interest groups.
IDBs are independent public bodies responsible for managing water levels in low-lying
areas. IDBs are the land drainage authority within their districts and their functions include
supervising land drainage, and flood defence works on ordinary watercourses or other
sources of flooding. This is primarily funded by drainage rates and levies from land
occupiers and local authorities. By doing this, they closely manage water levels, both in
watercourses and underground (groundwater), by improving and maintaining ordinary
watercourses, drainage channels and pumping stations to reduce the risk of flooding.
They are able to involve local people, encourage volunteering and raise funds from those
who benefit from their work.
Highways authorities
Highways authorities (the Highways Agency and unitary/county councils) have the lead
responsibility for providing and managing highway drainage and roadside ditches under
the Highways Act 1980. The owners of land adjoining a highway also have a common-law
duty to maintain ditches to prevent them causing a nuisance to road users.
To manage these risks as set out in the national strategy, highways authorities will need to
work effectively with the Environment Agency, LLFAs and district councils to ensure their
flood management activities are well co-ordinated.
18
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
8. Further reading and information
The national strategy – Understanding the risks, empowering communities, building
resilience: the national flood and coastal risk management strategy for England – describes
what needs to be done by all the risk management authorities to reduce the risk of flooding
and coastal erosion, and to manage its consequences. Available to view or download from
the Official Documents’ website:
www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/other/9780108510366/9780108510366.asp
Flood risk strategies and plans for your area – visit the Environment Agency website to
view FCERM activity in your area.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31736.aspx
Future funding of flood and coastal erosion risk management in England – visit Defra’s
website for more detailed information about the changes to funding.
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/funding-outcomes-insurance/
The Pitt Review – this review of the 2007 floods by Sir Michael Pitt identified the lessons
learned, focusing on the needs of people living and working in areas at risk. The review
made 92 recommendations, focusing on six key aspects of flood risk management and has
also led to a greater focus on surface water flooding - a main cause of damage in the 2007
floods. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/33889.aspx
Flooding in England – our national assessment of flood risk for England sets out the
current level of risk from rivers and the sea and what the Environment Agency is doing to
manage it. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/108660.aspx
Investing for the future. Flood and coastal risk management in England – a long term
investment strategy. The latest climate change predictions indicate that flooding and
coastal erosion are likely to increase in the future. The long-term investment strategy sets
out the scale of the investment needed to meet this challenge over the next 25 years.
Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/108673.aspx
The Foresight Future Flooding Report – How climate change will affect us in 30 to 100
years time. Available to view or download from the Environment Agency website:
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/33923.aspx
National Flood Forum – supports and represents communities and individuals that are at
risk of flooding, to prepare for and deal with issues they face when it occurs. It brings
together individuals and communities with those responsible for managing flood risk. It
also provides learning and training programmes to agencies, authorities and
communities, and highlights flood risk issues to government. Visit the National Flood
Forum website.
www.floodforum.org.uk
National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England summary
19
Environment Agency
general enquiries 03708 506 506 (Mon-Fri 8-6)
incident hotline 0800 80 70 60 (24hrs)
floodline 0845 988 1188
enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Defra
helpline 08459 33 55 77
defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
www.defra.gov.uk
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