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.

The refreshed strategy will remain focused on bolstering resilience in flooding and coastal change, with ambitious but realistic steps out to 2050 that reflect changes since 2020 such as the latest risk evidence, learning from the EA’s flood and coastal innovation programme, recent flood and storm events, and new government policy.

ADA is participating in the Strategic Advisory Group alongside a number of  representatives from other national bodies including: ADEPT, LGA, NE, NFU, RFCCs, National Highways, Network Rail, National Highways, National Flood Forum, Blueprint for Water, and Flood Re.

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.

They will also be looking at reviewing with partners the roles and responsibilities of: the EA’s strategic overview, other RMAs, and of combined authorities and city regions in relation to FCERM.

A public consultation on the strategic objectives and measures is set to take place in the Autumn with the refreshed strategy laid before Parliament in 2027.

You can find out more on the Environment Agency’s engagement website here.

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