Project appraisal guidance: procedural guidance for operating authorities
Government policy is moving towards taking a more strategic and sustainable approach to managing risks and it is intended to achieve this through the development of an updated strategic risk management framework as part of Making Space for Water, our strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management. Further information can be found on the Risk Management Guidance project page.
There are five available titles in the existing series, designed to provide an integrated suite of guidance on all aspects of project appraisal. The documents are intended to assist knowledgeable practitioners but they are not comprehensive manuals or textbooks, nor do they define Government policy.
Important note: please read this guidance in conjunction with the supplementary guidance below which provides updates on some key issues.
Supplementary Guidance
- Treatment of agricultural land
(104kb) provides an update on the valuation of agricultural land, May 2008 - Risk to people guidance (170kb) covers a method for the valuation of the risk to life associated with flood risks, May 2008
- Treatment of climate change impacts (70kb) and accompanying Q&A (30kb), October 2006
- Interim Guidance
Note (161kb) which takes account of Defra's policy on
socio-economic equity and appraisal of human-related intangible impacts of
flooding, July 2004
- Interim Guidance
Note (235kb) on how changes in HM Treasury guidance Appraisal
and Evaluation in Central Government (the 'Green Book') should be applied
to appraisal of flood and coastal erosion risk management projects, March 2003
Project Appraisal Guidance
- FCDPAG1: Overview (including general guidance) (186KB)
Guidance on the general integration of approaches and the recommended use of the document series. MAFF 2001, A4. 42pp - PB5518 - FCDPAG2: Strategic planning and
appraisal (283 KB)
Sets out a framework for strategic consideration of appropriate flood and erosion risk areas related to river catchments or lengths of coast. This should lead to appropriate problem definition and identification of broad options for solution. MAFF 2001, A4. 58pp - PB5476 - FCDPAG3: Economic
Appraisal
Offers a more flexible and realistic approach to decision making leading to a more appropriate selection of standards for different schemes. This is complemented by a more pragmatic approach to environmental evaluation, whilst introducing other considerations into the decision process such as economic sustainability. More tools and worked examples (including sample spreadsheets in Annex A) can also be found. MAFF 2000, A4. 104pp PB4650 - FCDPAG4: Approaches to risk (710 KB)
Intended to assist in the derivation of appropriate economic values and decision making, through proper consideration of risk issues. MAFF 2000, A4. 76pp PB4907 - FCDPAG5: Environmental appraisal (524 KB)
Provides a similar function in the derivation of economic values for input to economic decision making, set out in FCDPAG3, for environmental aspects of flood and coastal defence works. MAFF 2000, A4. 66 pp PB4915
Page last
modified: 22 May 2008
Page published: 1 March 2000