Bricks & Water: FCERM Policy for a new government

The new report highlights the need for stronger flood risk management.

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Bricks & Water: FCERM Policy for a new government

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A new report urges the UK government to prioritise flood and coastal erosion risk management to safeguard communities and bolster sustainable development.

Policy Connect's latest report, "Bricks and Water: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Policy for a New Government," highlights the urgent need for reform in flood risk management strategies.  This is particularly crucial given the government's ambitious housing targets and the escalating threat of climate change.

Key concerns:

  • Despite significant investment in flood defences, millions of properties in England remain vulnerable to flooding, a figure projected to increase substantially due to climate change.
  • The recent record-breaking rainfall underscores the urgent need for effective flood and coastal erosion risk management to protect both existing and new developments.

Recommendations for professionals:

The "Bricks and Water" report, developed with input from experts across various sectors including water, construction, insurance, and local authorities, offers eleven key recommendations for enhancing flood and coastal erosion risk management. These recommendations focus on:

  • Planning policy
    Integrating flood risk assessments into planning processes to ensure new developments are resilient and located in low-risk areas. This calls for close collaboration between planners, developers, and flood risk management authorities.
  • Flood defence funding and maintenance
    Ensuring adequate and sustained funding for both new flood defences and the maintenance of existing infrastructure. Professionals involved in design, construction, and maintenance should advocate for long-term investment strategies and prioritise sustainable solutions.
  • Coastal change
    Developing comprehensive strategies for managing coastal erosion, including proactive planning for relocation and adaptation measures. Coastal engineers and planners need to work together to implement innovative solutions that protect communities and infrastructure.
  • Property flood resilience
    Promoting measures to enhance the flood resilience of individual properties, such as flood-resistant construction materials and flood protection products.  This requires raising awareness amongst homeowners and builders about the importance of property-level flood protection.

The report serves as a call to action for professionals in the flood industry to advocate for policy reforms and implement best practices that prioritise flood resilience. By working together, we can create sustainable communities that are equipped to withstand the increasing threat of flooding and coastal erosion.

Access the full report here.

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, Inquiry Chair, said:

“This is the fourth inquiry that I have Chaired in the Bricks and Water series, and it comes at a crucial time, as vulnerable communities across the country deal with the consequences of winter storms Bert and Darragh.

The new Government plans to build 300,000 houses per year during this Parliament.  However, throughout this inquiry, we have heard that new homes are continuing to be built within areas of high flood risk and coastal change, often against the advice of the Environment Agency. The Government’s forthcoming agenda for planning reform must not come at the expense of safeguards that protect communities from flooding.  This report includes a set of pragmatic recommendations to help policymakers manage the risks from flooding and coastal erosion, whilst also facilitating growth.”   

Blake Stephenson MP, Inquiry Vice-Chair, said:

"When Mid Bedfordshire was flooded last year, it raised a lot of questions for constituents who suffered the terrible consequences.  

We are all living with an increasing risk of flooding and it is important that government ensures policies - such as the planning framework - are improved so that people and property are not at undue risk from flooding.   

This report makes sensible and practical recommendations to achieve just that, and for the sake of all our communities I would encourage the government to consider each of them seriously.”

Rob Allen C.WEM, report author

“Economic growth cannot happen when people are displaced from their homes, public transport is disrupted, and businesses are closed – all direct impacts of flooding. Effective flood risk management is not only a vital prerequisite to deliver on the new Government’s Mission for Growth, but it is also a good use of public money.  

We recognise the constrained nature of public finances, which is why many of the recommendations in this report do not require new Treasury funding, but rather simple changes to policy, which can make a big difference to the way that the Environment Agency, Local Authorities, developers, and other stakeholders protect people and places from flooding.”

Jason Storah, CEO at Aviva General Insurance

“We see first-hand the devastating impact that flooding and extreme weather can have on homes, businesses and livelihoods.  It’s vital that we work together now, to get ready for what the future may hold. 

Over the last ten years, 110,000 new homes have been built in flood zones and we need to prevent that number from increasing. As Government undertakes its planning reforms we are calling for a three-step check to ensure new properties are climate-ready; built in the right places; built with the right materials; built with resilience as standard.” 



[Featured image credit: Mistervlad/shutterstock.com]



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