National Flood Risk Management Plans

16 Nov 2025 | Committee report linked

The Government should revise the impact assessment for the NRF, to take account of a variety of environmental issues, not only nutrient neutrality. It should consider the impact, role and budget of local authorities during the revision process. Only once a fully comprehensive impact assessment of the environmental aspect of the NRF has been completed can informed decisions about the efficacy of the NRF be made. The Government and Natural England must be clearer as to how approaches to the NRF...

The Government should revise the impact assessment for the NRF, to take account of a variety of environmental issues, not only nutrient neutrality. It should consider the impact, role and budget of local authorities during the revision process. Only once …

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13 Oct 2025 | Committee report linked

By 2027, the Government should develop and adopt clear, measurable national flood resilience standards that define the expected level of resilience based on the characteristics of the area or property. These standards should guide national and local investment, support planning decisions, and give the public confidence that resilience is being delivered consistently and transparently. These standards should be: • Embedded: the standards should be incorporated in the National Adaptation Progra...

By 2027, the Government should develop and adopt clear, measurable national flood resilience standards that define the expected level of resilience based on the characteristics of the area or property. These standards should guide national and local investment, support planning …

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19 Apr 2024 | Committee report linked

For most extreme weather risks government has not set out what level of resilience it wants to achieve or how it will attain this, including targets and standards for the desired level of national, local or sectoral resilience. For three of the four extreme weather risks examined by the National Audit Office (high temperatures and heatwaves, storms and surface water flooding), government has not specified what outcome it is looking to achieve, such as target levels of preparedness or resilien...

For most extreme weather risks government has not set out what level of resilience it wants to achieve or how it will attain this, including targets and standards for the desired level of national, local or sectoral resilience. For three …

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19 Apr 2024 | Committee report linked

Both public and private sector investment is critical in developing national resilience to extreme weather events and climate change. For example, many flood defence projects require funding from public and private sector sources in addition to government 6 Qq 1, 45 7 Qq 1, 2, 39, 43, 90, 124; C&AG’s Report, para 9 8 Qq 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 43 9 Q 10 10 Q 34; C&AG’s Report, para 21 11 Prof Rowena Hill and Rich Pickford (GEX0008); Newcastle University (GEX0012); UK Corporate Leaders Group (GEX0013)...

Both public and private sector investment is critical in developing national resilience to extreme weather events and climate change. For example, many flood defence projects require funding from public and private sector sources in addition to government 6 Qq 1, …

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19 Apr 2024 | Committee report linked

For three of the four extreme weather risks that the NAO examined (high temperatures and heatwaves, storms and surface water flooding), there was a lack of clarity on what outcome government is looking to achieve, such as target levels of preparedness, resilience, and an agreement on the level of tolerable risk, based on a well-informed risk appetite. In the case of drought, water companies are required to plan to ensure resilience to a 1-in- 200 year ‘severe’ drought and in their new plans i...

For three of the four extreme weather risks that the NAO examined (high temperatures and heatwaves, storms and surface water flooding), there was a lack of clarity on what outcome government is looking to achieve, such as target levels of …

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19 Apr 2024 | Committee report linked

Local organisations have a critical role in responding to emergencies and building resilience.50 Emergency responders in a local area convene in local resilience forums (LRFs) and the Cabinet Office published a set of national resilience standards for LRFs in 2020. These standards provide a consistent way for LRFs and their constituent local responder organisations to self-assess their capabilities and level of readiness, and to guide continuous improvement against mandatory requirements, goo...

Local organisations have a critical role in responding to emergencies and building resilience.50 Emergency responders in a local area convene in local resilience forums (LRFs) and the Cabinet Office published a set of national resilience standards for LRFs in 2020. …

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19 Apr 2024 | Written evidence linked

We asked the witnesses whether central government reviews local emergency plans and monitors community risk registers. The Cabinet Office told us that LRF plans are not examined and assured by central government, noting that the powers exist to do this but not the funding for implementation. It also highlighted that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities monitors LRFs’ performance against aspects of legislation to provide assistance rather than to perform an inspection or enfo...

We asked the witnesses whether central government reviews local emergency plans and monitors community risk registers. The Cabinet Office told us that LRF plans are not examined and assured by central government, noting that the powers exist to do this …

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17 Jan 2024 | Committee report linked

The Agency is not the lead risk authority for surface water flooding: this falls under the remit of a number of bodies (such as the Highways Agency) with local authorities having lead responsibility.30 Local authorities’ core budget is not ring-fenced for flooding and we have previously raised concerns over the level of revenue funding available to local authorities.31 The NAO’s survey found that 60% of local authorities did not think they had the staff capabilities to undertake their role ef...

The Agency is not the lead risk authority for surface water flooding: this falls under the remit of a number of bodies (such as the Highways Agency) with local authorities having lead responsibility.30 Local authorities’ core budget is not ring-fenced …

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17 Jan 2024 | Committee report linked

Flood Re is required to publish a transition plan every five years outlining how they plan to manage the transition. Flood Re published its most recent Transition Plan in July

Flood Re is required to publish a transition plan every five years outlining how they plan to manage the transition. Flood Re published its most recent Transition Plan in July Type: conclusion | Number: 27 | Response status: not_addressed Government …

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12 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government should ensure comprehensive plans are made for future risks and emergencies. The UK should aim to be a world leader in co-ordinating international resilience planning, including reform of the World Health Organisation to ensure that it is able to play a more effective role in future pandemics.

The Government should ensure comprehensive plans are made for future risks and emergencies. The UK should aim to be a world leader in co-ordinating international resilience planning, including reform of the World Health Organisation to ensure that it is able …

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12 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government should ensure comprehensive plans are made for future risks and emergencies. The UK should aim to be a world leader in co-ordinating international resilience planning, including reform of the World Health Organisation to ensure that it is able to play a more effective role in future pandemics.

The Government should ensure comprehensive plans are made for future risks and emergencies. The UK should aim to be a world leader in co-ordinating international resilience planning, including reform of the World Health Organisation to ensure that it is able …

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12 Oct 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government should ensure comprehensive plans are made for future risks and emergencies. The UK should aim to be a world leader in co-ordinating international resilience planning, including reform of the World Health Organisation to ensure that it is able to play a more effective role in future pandemics.

The Government should ensure comprehensive plans are made for future risks and emergencies. The UK should aim to be a world leader in co-ordinating international resilience planning, including reform of the World Health Organisation to ensure that it is able …

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8 Feb 2021 | Committee report linked

Climate change poses a grave threat to the flood resilience of communities, with the Climate Change Committee warning that warming of 4°C or more implies inevitable increases in flood risk even in the most ambitious adaptation scenarios considered. The Government needs to be frank about the level of risk it is prepared to accept in extreme climate change scenarios, and those likely to be affected need to know now. The Government should explain how a reasonable worst-case scenario for increase...

Climate change poses a grave threat to the flood resilience of communities, with the Climate Change Committee warning that warming of 4°C or more implies inevitable increases in flood risk even in the most ambitious adaptation scenarios considered. The Government …

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8 Feb 2021 | Committee report linked

While we welcome the commitment to consider improving transparency for flood risk advice, the Government must ensure that any development which still goes ahead against advice is clearly communicated to prospective homebuyers. The Government should ensure that information on development against flood risk advice is published in a clear and accessible form.

While we welcome the commitment to consider improving transparency for flood risk advice, the Government must ensure that any development which still goes ahead against advice is clearly communicated to prospective homebuyers. The Government should ensure that information on development …

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8 Feb 2021 | Committee report linked

Water and sewerage companies have an important role to play in managing flood risk and we welcome moves to put drainage planning by companies on a statutory footing. It will be necessary for other Risk Management Authorities and owners of drainage assets to be involved in preparing and maintaining these plans. The Government should explain how the statutory provisions for water company Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans will ensure appropriate co-operation and consultation with other Risk...

Water and sewerage companies have an important role to play in managing flood risk and we welcome moves to put drainage planning by companies on a statutory footing. It will be necessary for other Risk Management Authorities and owners of …

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8 Feb 2021 | Committee report linked

Working with natural processes is an important part of a holistic approach to flood risk management. There are several initiatives that could serve as delivery vehicles for natural flood management, including the new Environmental Land Management scheme, and a catchment-based approach requires join-up between these policies to ensure that natural flood management interventions are appropriately targeted and incentivised. We recommend that the Government should scale up natural flood managemen...

Working with natural processes is an important part of a holistic approach to flood risk management. There are several initiatives that could serve as delivery vehicles for natural flood management, including the new Environmental Land Management scheme, and a catchment-based …

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8 Feb 2021 | Committee report linked

The Government has been clear that paying farmers for measures such as floodwater storage forms a key part of its plans. Any measures which call on farmers and land managers to allow their land to be used in this way must ensure proper recognition for the public goods provided. The Government should ensure that natural flood management schemes will involve farmers and land managers at every stage of identifying, designing and implementing a scheme. The Government should also ensure that land ...

The Government has been clear that paying farmers for measures such as floodwater storage forms a key part of its plans. Any measures which call on farmers and land managers to allow their land to be used in this way …

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