National FCERM Strategy refresh

The Environment Agency is this year starting a review of its statutory Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for England, working closely with Defra and other stakeholders.

It is a legally requirement to periodically refresh the Strategy under the Flood & Water Management Act 2010. This will update and strengthen the strategic long-term framework for flood and coastal resilience, reflecting Ministers’ priorities, as well as changes to our understanding of both current and future flood and coastal erosion risk. The revised Strategy will define what ‘good’ flood resilience looks like and the roles of the various delivery partners that contribute to it. Risk management authorities (RMAs) already have a statutory requirement to act in a manner consistent with the Strategy. The Environment Agency works closely with RMAs to ensure that the Strategy is understood and implemented.

As the EA continues to work towards this collective vision of a nation resilient to flooding and coastal change, and reflect on change since 2020 such as latest risk evidence, learning from our flood and coastal innovation programme, recent flood and storm events, and new government policy – now is the right time to revisit and strengthen England’s strategic direction.

The Environment Agency hosted an initial one-hour webinar to discuss the refresh of the FCERM Strategy for England on Friday 08 May 2026. This presentation from the Environment Agency looked at why the strategy is being refreshed, what’s driving the change, and how you can play a part.

The Environment Agency have said that they want to engage partners in deeper discussions around:

• surface and groundwater flooding,
• rural flood resilience and lowlands,
• coastal change, transition and adaptation,
• asset management including maintenance,
• integrated catchment-based planning,
• natural flood management,
• flood preparedness, response and recovery,
• societal resilience – infrastructure, property, community, public service,
• growth and place making, and
• insurance and finance.

---