July 2026
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This conference assessed latest developments, policy priorities and next steps for tackling flooding and coastal erosion in England.
It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss the way forward for targeting and delivery of the Government’s £10.5bn commitment to flood defences over the next ten years, following new reports raising concerns that 1.2 million undefended buildings could be at risk. Delegates also considered implications of reform to Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management funding policy aimed at offering greater support for asset refurbishment and renewal, natural flood management, and deprived areas.
Discussion drew on concerns from the Environmental Audit Committee’s Flood Resilience in England report published in October 2025, finding that England’s current approach to flood risk management is complex, fragmented, and insufficiently funded. Implications for infrastructure operators, local authorities, insurers, utilities, developers, land managers and businesses exposed to increasing flood and coastal risks were examined.
With ministerial direction setting out priorities for forthcoming review of the FCERM Strategy now published, the conference was also an opportunity to consider how flood and coastal management strategies can most effectively support wider environmental, social and economic objectives - including those set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan and A New Vision for Water White Paper. Sessions discussed approaches to steering development away from areas at highest flood risk, with concerns around development and land-use policy flagged in the Government’s recently published Land Use Framework. We also expected delegates to consider ways of strengthening the role of the planning system in managing climate impacts, alongside the use of nature-based solutions such as floodplain restoration and sustainable catchment management to reduce flood risk.
Funding reform, programme design, delivery & investment
Discussion considered the allocation of £830m in funding for flood schemes between 2026-2027, looking at priorities for monitoring and delivery, and considerations for future programme design. Implications of simplified funding models for local investment were assessed, including the incorporation of social vulnerability and risk factors alongside financial metrics within funding frameworks and decision-making, and how this might influence programme prioritisation.
Delegates discussed approaches to optimising the balance of funding between asset maintenance and new infrastructure, including priorities for addressing ageing infrastructure. Opportunities for innovative solutions were also explored following the introduction of dedicated investment targets and appraisal pathways - including in areas such as natural flood management, Sustainable Drainage Systems, and property flood resilience.
With concerns raised by some stakeholders that prioritisation of maintenance and small-scale schemes could risk fragmentation in programme delivery, sessions looked at how new and large-scale schemes can help manage risks associated with cost overruns and delivery complexity. Discussion also considered approaches to attracting private capital to supplement public allocations and diversify investment sources, alongside frameworks for partnership working to support wider resilience. Potential implications of recent targeted investments were also considered for regional prioritisation, farmland safeguarding, rural resilience and funding programme design.
Planning, infrastructure, resilience & adaptation
Further discussion assessed priorities for managing surface water flood risk, amidst concerns around how fully it is reflected in planning policy and strategic decision-making, despite reports that the majority of at-risk buildings are vulnerable to surface water flooding. The agenda also considered approaches to improving monitoring, maintenance and upgrading of sewerage and drainage infrastructure, alongside next steps for Sustainable Drainage Systems, including implications of revisions to the NPPF for standardising and enforcing design and implementation, and considerations relating to enactment of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Approaches to encouraging property resilience was explored, including the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant scheme and flood insurance schemes. The conference also considered evidence gaps identified in the Government’s recent FCERM Property Flood Resilience evidence review, alongside proposals for future research and development. Delegates examined progress of the Flood Re scheme and options for transition arrangements in the insurance market, as well as strategies for supporting vulnerable groups, and addressing affordability and coverage gaps. Discussion also considered effective approaches to managing coastal erosion - drawing on experience from Coastal Adaptation Pilots - including options such as selective property purchases, financing solutions, warning systems, and relocation schemes. Community-scale resilience was also explored, looking at priorities for supporting the development of social and economic infrastructure for recovery.
We expected a focus on how flooding and climate risk management are being factored into land use decisions, including the role of the National Adaptation Programme in setting resilience standards for infrastructure planning and investment, and implications of the recently published Land Use Framework. Concerns raised by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee around a mismatch between short and long term plans in the Committee’s view - were also considered, looking at options for integrating data and modelling of flood risk into land use planning and enabling data sharing between relevant public authorities.
Governance & catchment-based approaches
Further discussion assessed governance and co-ordination needed to support an integrated, catchment-based approach to flood management - with concerns in recent policy discussion that the current FCERM Strategy, and National Adaptation Programme, may lack sufficiently standardised approaches to adaptation and resilience. Delegates discussed questions around roles and responsibilities across national and regional delivery partners, and ways forward for strengthening arrangements for oversight, enforceability, and accountability. Sessions explored priorities for flood resilience set out in the Climate Change Committee’s A Well-Adapted UK report, examining recommendations for investment, governance, flood preparedness, emergency response management, catchment approaches and nature-based solutions.
The agenda considered how catchment-based approaches can support wider social and environmental targets, including those set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan. With the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee’s ongoing call for evidence on priorities for supporting upland farms and landscapes, discussion looked at the role of upland areas in natural flood management. Attendees also considered implications of reform to water governance and planning for supporting joined-up approaches to flood resilience, as well as the future role of risk modelling and prediction in flood management, following launch of the Environment Agency’s new National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service.
As well as key stakeholders, those attending included parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department for Transport; Department for Business and Trade; Ministry of Defence; Climate Change Committee; Ofwat; Environment Agency; Planning Inspectorate; Marine Management Organisation; Isle of Man Government; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
