The Environment Agency has published a new report setting out long-term flood investment scenarios covering the whole of England for the next 50 years.

The new study, which builds on the 2009 long-term investment strategy,  includes improvements and updates in the analysis of risk and the value of future investment. The scenarios show how future risks from flooding and coastal erosion could change due to different investment scenarios and estimate the level of investment that would maximise benefits under different circumstances.

The study takes into account a range of factors, including climate change, how development in flood plains is managed and changes in future costs to manage flooding and coastal erosion.

The Environment Agency now has a more complete analysis than ever before, which:

• presents findings on the investment choices over the next 50 years
• shows the link between long-term investment and existing plans
• sets out that current spending plans (about £750 million, including all public and third party sources) are broadly in line with optimum levels of investment over the next 10 years
• makes an assessment of the risk of flooding from surface water alongside the risk of flooding from rivers and the sea
• assesses the benefits of a range of flood defences and flood management measures, including structures and individual property protection
• explores the potential to reduce the consequences of flooding through flood forecasting and warning
• determines whether the total level of flood risk and coastal erosion can be reduced in England in the coming years
• takes account of the programme of flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes

At present, there is not enough evidence to include risk from groundwater flooding in the analysis.

In 2014 to 2015, Defra, the Environment Agency and its Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, local councils and local beneficiaries expect to spend around £930 million managing flood and coastal erosion risk, including £180 million additional funding to repair and maintain defences.

According to the Agency, the current 'partnership funding' policy has already been successful in attracting external contributions. These have risen from £13 million in 2008 to 2011 to a forecast of around £140 million in 2011 to 2015.

Click here to access the full report