GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS ON FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
The Government have agreed the following as part of the joint statement on flooding and insurance for England:
Improving flood risk assessment
- Environment Agency to provide a more accurate National Flood Risk Assessment for river and coastal flooding by January 2009 and to undertake an annual review thereafter: a work plan for delivery of the above and further supporting information to facilitate better communication of flood risk to the public and insurers is summarised in a separate note.
- Environment Agency to develop effective means to make its flood risk assessments publicly accessible, including for surface water flood risk.
Reducing flood risk
- Government to prepare a detailed response to the Pitt report with a prioritised action plan in Autumn 2008.
- Environment Agency to provide data to identify locations that are expected to benefit from improved flood defences against flooding from main rivers and the sea within the next five years by January 2009 and to update this annually thereafter: data to be included is summarised in a separate note.
- Government to publish a draft Floods and Water Bill in spring 2009. This follows from both the Pitt Review into the 2007 floods and the Government’s Water Strategy, Future Water.
- Based on the Environment Agency’s scenarios modelling work of flood and coastal risk management to be published in spring 2009, the Government will put in place a long-term investment strategy to reduce flood risk prior to the next spending review. This will set out Government’s short, medium and long term strategic flood prevention aims; assess funding needs and ensure effective and prioritised allocation of resources and delivery over the medium and long term.
- Government to set outcome measures for effective flood and coastal erosion risk management over spending review periods in consultation with stakeholders.
Development planning policy and building design
- Government to publish an initial evaluation of the planning policy framework for flood risk by March 2009, including the quality of Strategic Flood Risk Assessments, the number of planning applications approved against Environment Agency advice, and the use and extent of call-in powers.
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modified: 11 July 2008
Page published: 11 July 2008