TO BE PUBLISHED June 2026
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This conference will assess latest developments, policy priorities and next steps for tackling flooding and coastal erosion in England. It takes place with the Government’s £10.5bn commitment to flood defences over the next ten years, as well as the recently published Water White Paper, Environmental Improvement Plan, and forthcoming review of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.
Governance
The discussion will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to assess recommendations set out by the Environmental Audit Committee’s Flood Resilience in England Review and forthcoming statutory review to the FCERM Strategy. The agenda will consider governance and coordination needed to support a strategic, system-wide approach, including strategies for embedding resilience and risk factors into policy, planning and investment, clarifying roles and responsibilities across national and regional delivery partners, and strengthening arrangements for oversight and accountability.
Funding allocation
Next steps for developing and delivering the flood defence pipeline will be examined, with discussion on approaches to optimising funding allocations between asset maintenance and new infrastructure, as well as the role of innovative solutions, including natural flood management, sustainable drainage, and property flood resilience. Delegates will assess implications of simplified funding models for local investment, including the extent to which funding frameworks and decisions will incorporate social vulnerability and risk factors alongside financial metrics. Options for encouraging property resilience, including the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant scheme and flood insurance schemes will be explored, as well as strategies for supporting vulnerable groups.
Changes to the planning process
Drawing on the Water White Paper, further discussion will consider implications of reform to water governance and regulation for managing flooding risk. Attendees will assess next steps for Sustainable Drainage Systems, in light of revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework for standardising and enforcing design and implementation, as well as expectations for enacting Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Further sessions will consider impacts of flooding and climate risk management on planning and development, and how these are being factored into land use decisions, implications of reform to the NPPF for development plans, and expectations for the forthcoming Land Use Framework.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy:
- forthcoming review of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy - implications of the Environmental Audit Committee’s Flood Resilience Review
- alignment with the Water White Paper, Environmental Improvement Plan, and forthcoming 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy
- flooding risk:
- updating the National Assessment - addressing data gaps and improving consistency of monitoring metrics
- integrating climate projections into risk modelling, planning assumptions, and cost projections
- governance and coordination:
- defining roles for Regional Water Authorities, Lead Local Flood Authorities, catchment partnerships and national bodies
- oversight, accountability and local coordination - approaches to a more integrated catchment-based approach
- planning and land use:
- flooding and climate risk considerations within planning policy - implications of revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework
- integration of forthcoming Land Use Framework priorities into development decisions
- infrastructure priorities:
- renewal of existing assets alongside construction of new defences - improving resilience and condition monitoring of flood infrastructure
- use of digital tools and artificial intelligence for asset management and early warning
- drainage and water systems:
- alignment of Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans with flooding risk objectives - embedding resilience standards in water and sewerage infrastructure -
- Sustainable Drainage Systems implementation under revised planning frameworks
- funding and investment:
- delivery of the flood defence pipeline following the Government’s £10.5bn commitment - implications of simplified funding models for local investment decisions
- approaches to incorporating social vulnerability and risk factors into prioritisation
- Natural Flood Management:
- considerations for expanding use of nature-based solutions within catchment strategies
- assessing environmental co-benefits, including biodiversity and habitat restoration - contribution to targets in the Environmental Improvement Plan
- readiness to flooding:
- next steps for the Property Flood Resilience scheme - strategies for improving uptake, accessibility and standards for household adaptation measures
- strengthening preparedness and awareness among communities
- insurance and protection:
- future options for flood insurance and risk pooling - addressing affordability and coverage gaps
- transition arrangements following Flood Re and approaches for protecting vulnerable households
