TO BE PUBLISHED February 2025
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This conference will examine next steps for mitigating flooding risks and building longer-term resilience into flood management in England.
Scheduled to follow the planned publication of the Environment Agency’s National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024, it will be a timely opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the development of a consistent and detailed national system for anticipating flooding.
Delegates will assess the Government’s wider policy priorities for managing and mitigating flood risks, including how the new Floods Resilience Taskforce should coordinate preparation and resilience in its work.
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.
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 from the Minister for Water and Flooding, and with leaked figures showing the highest proportion of defences being rated as inadequate by the Government since 2009/10.
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 approaching 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: Julie Foley, Director, Flood Risk Strategy and National Adaptation, EA; Edmund Beard, Assistant Policy Director, NIC; Tom Josephs, Fiscal Member, Budget Responsibility Committee, OBR; 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 - 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. Those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from Defra; Ofwat; DBT; DfT; DfI, NI; Isle of Man Government; and The Scottish Government.
