TO BE PUBLISHED February 2025
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This conference will examine next steps for mitigating flooding risks, tackling coastal erosion and building longer-term resilience into flood management in England.
Following the publication of the Environment Agency’s National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024 in December, it will be a timely opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the development of a consistent and efficient national system for anticipating flooding.
With rising numbers of properties at risk due to climate change, areas for discussion include enhancing risk modelling, the need for tailored regional solutions, nature-based approaches, long-term investment in defences, building coordinated action across sectors, and driving community resilience through awareness, planning, and adaptive strategies.
Delegates will also assess the Government’s wider policy priorities for managing and mitigating flood risks, and the role of the new Floods Resilience Taskforce, including improving preparedness, and enhancing monitoring systems and strengthening resilience, as the Environmental Audit Committee’s Flood resilience in England inquiry progresses.
Sessions will look at next steps for identifying and mitigating flood risks posed by greater rainfall intensity and rising water levels, and examine how investment in flooding could be directed more strategically and efficiently to protect communities. It will be an opportunity for delegates to consider strategies for mapping areas vulnerable to coastal erosion, measures to prevent land loss, and next steps in light of the recently updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map.
Delegates will discuss new approaches and best practice on coordinating local guidance to facilitate long-term flood management. Those attending will consider engagement with communities to incorporate place and nature-based solutions into flood defences and wider infrastructure projects, in light of recommendations in the National Infrastructure Commission’s Infrastructure Progress Review 2024.
Discussion will also explore strategies for improving the condition of existing flood defences in light of concerns over the state of current infrastructure raised by the Minister for Water and Flooding, and with reports of the highest proportion of defences being rated as inadequate by the Government for more than a decade, with calls for more investment to prepare against future floods.
Sessions will consider how the new Taskforce will look to speed up and coordinate preparation between central government, local authorities, community responders and emergency services. The role and priorities of different stakeholder groups will also be assessed in developing a strategic long-term approach to the challenge of flooding.
With the new Government looking to accelerate housebuilding through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, it will also be timely opportunity to discuss priorities for building flood resilience into new property developments. Further sessions will also consider the way forward for tackling risks of surface water flooding, including the detrimental impact of some new building developments and how unmanaged growth of impermeable surfaces could be reversed.
We are pleased to include keynote sessions with: We are pleased to include keynote sessions with: Julie Foley, Director, Flood Risk Strategy and National Adaptation, EA; Edmund Beard, Assistant Policy Director, NIC; Tom Josephs, Fiscal Member, Budget Responsibility Committee, OBR; Fiona Barbour, Co-Chair, Nature and Resilience Community Advisory Board, Institution of Civil Engineers; and Prof Ivan Haigh, Professor, Costal Oceanography, University of Southampton.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- flood risk mapping and forecasting: developing a nationally-consistent mapping system - anticipating risks of flooding and coastal erosion - understanding and mitigating the risks posed by climate change - long-term planning - improving clarity and detail of local information and guidance
- collaboration and place-based approaches: working with local authorities and community groups - exploring nature-based solutions
- planning and infrastructure: building resilience into housing developments and infrastructure projects - reversing risks posed by surface water run-off - role of local and national highways authorities - utilising NaFRA2 when working with government and local leaders
- investment: strategic direction of investment - opportunities for research and innovation - priorities for improving flood defences
- policy and priorities: next steps for the new Floods Resilience Taskforce - looking beyond the Flood and Coastal Erosion Management Strategy - addressing concerns around the condition of current flood defences
- long-term strategy: creating clear and measurable long-term targets - improving resilience and preparation across central government, local authorities and emergency services
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from Defra; MHCLG; Ofwat; CCC; NIC; DBT; DfT; DfI, NI; MOD; OBR; Isle of Man Government; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
