The Environment Agency has published its annual corporate report on flood and coastal erosion risk management for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.
The report summarises activities carried out by risk management authorities (RMAs) in England:
- the Environment Agency
- lead local flood authorities (LLFAs)
- district councils (where there is no unitary authority)
- internal drainage boards (IDBs)
- water and sewerage companies
- highways authorities
Introducing the report, the Agency said that it was warmer than average in 2020 for the UK – the year ranks as the third warmest year on record. Between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021 England experienced some periods of prolonged heavy rain. On 2 October 2020, Storm Alex brought stormy conditions with strong winds. Prolonged and widespread heavy rain continued through 3 and 4 October.
The 3 October was the UK’s wettest day on record since 1891, but the impact of flooding was limited. This was due to the steady nature of the rainfall and dry ground conditions.
Several areas of the county experienced widespread flooding in December 2020 and January 2021. The Environment Agency was part of a multi-agency response.
Heavy rain on 23 and 24 December 2020 resulted in flooding from both surface water and rivers. Up to 50 millimetres (mm) of rain caused river levels rise in catchments that were already saturated. The areas of the country most affected were:
- Cambridgeshire
- Bedfordshire
- Northamptonshire
- Lincolnshire
- Oxfordshire
- Norfolk
The Great Ouse and the River Nene catchments experienced significant impacts. We recorded the highest ever river levels at:
- Buckingham
- Newport Pagnell
- Northampton
- Rugby
- Colney (west of Norwich)
In December 2020 in total the Agency warned over 40,000 properties of possible flooding and estimated that nearly 400 properties were flooded from heavy rainfall in December.
On 26 and 27 December, Storm Bella moved across the UK. The rainfall did not cause any further significant issues, but river levels remained very high on the Great Ouse, Thames, Severn and Exe.
However, in January 2021, Storm Christoph brought exceptionally wet weather to northern England from 18 to 20 January 2021 which resulted in 900 properties flooding. In Yorkshire, the Hull Barrier was in operation to reduce river levels upstream on the River Hull. The Foss Barrier was also in operation.
The Environment Agency published the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for England in 2020 which set out the new £5.2 billion FCERM investment programme which started on 1 April 2021.
The measures set out in the new plan are the most comprehensive in a decade – the investment will be used to create around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences to better protect 336,000 properties in England by 2027.
The plans also include £200 million for innovative projects such as sustainable drainage systems and nature-based solutions like temporary or permanent water storage areas which also boost wildlife.
In addition, the Government also allocated up to £170 million to be spent to accelerate work on shovel-ready flood defence schemes that were due to begin construction in 2020 or 2021.
The plan will see the delivery of flood and coastal defences to prevent £32 billion in economic damage, the creation of areas to store water during flooding and greater use of nature based solutions to reduce flood risk.
The plan also sets out proposed changes to the joint government and insurance industry Flood Re scheme. Subject to consultation, this will allow claims to include an additional amount so that flood resilience measures are included in repairs, and allow households that have property flood resilience measures in place to benefit from lower premiums.
Agency will undertake comprehensive review in 2023 to inform longer-term maintenance needs
A Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing followed the NAO report in January 2021. In February 2021, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC )PAC published its managing flood risk report. The Environment Agency’s response to the PAC was captured in the Treasury Minutes published on 17 May 2021.
Following the report , the Environment Agency must:
- review maintenance investment
- set out further detail on moving to digital for planning notices
The Agency has carried out an initial review of maintenance investment over the next 5 years. In 2023, it intends to undertake a more comprehensive review to inform its longer-term maintenance needs.
The report provides a detailed analysis of the work carried out by the Agency between 1 April 2015 and 31st March 2021 including:
- Total numbers of properties flooded by region
- Sources of flooding
- Types of funding
- Spend by region
- Types of benefits delivered
- Types of infrastructure protected
Between 1st April 2015 and 31 March 2021, the Environment Agency worked with other RMAs to complete more than 850 FCERM schemes.
Click here to access the full report online
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