The resilience of UK buildings and infrastructure, including water supplies in England, need to be enhanced to counter the more frequent and severe flooding and heatwaves that can be expected in future, according to a new report by the government’s adviser on preparing for climate change.

The Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change said that the storms of last winter highlighted the costs, damages and disruption that extreme weather can cause to homes, businesses and vital services.

The Committee found that while positive action is being taken to avoid future disruption to power supplies, and to some extent to train services, that could arise from severe weather, in other areas plans were found to be lacking.

Infrastructure providers could not always explain how storms and flooding had affected their services in the past, or what steps have been taken to address potential vulnerabilities.

The Committee is recommending that the comprehensive approach put in place by the power sector to protect their networks from severe weather should be adopted by water companies, for major roads, ports and airports, and by telecommunications providers.

Investing in flood defence to avoid future damage

The report says that past investment in flood defences, and recent improvements in forecasting, early warning and flood emergency planning, helped limit the impacts of the tidal surge in December 2013 – the largest in sixty years. However, the Committee is warning that efforts must be stepped up to prevent more damage in future as sea levels rise and development in the floodplain continues.

Limited budgets mean that three-quarters of existing flood defence structures are not being adequately maintained. The Report calls for regulations to avoid surface water flooding caused by new development should be introduced, after repeated delay – as recommended six years ago by the Pitt Review.

The Committee says that more must also be done by local councils to manage local flood risk, including ensuring that statutory local flood risk management plans and strategies are published, and agreed actions are taken. The councils should also enforce rules to avoid continuing loss of gardens to hard surfacing.

Lord John Krebs, Chair of the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, said:

“The impacts of climate change on the UK in the decades ahead are likely to include rising sea levels, more flooding, summer heatwaves, and perhaps more frequent storms and droughts.

“We have found good evidence of positive action being taken in a number of areas to safeguard public health and the economy from the impacts of climate change. Despite the disruption experienced by many in the storms this winter, the impacts would have been much worse if it hadn’t been for past investment in flood defences, and in flood forecasting and emergency planning. This is a clear demonstration of the benefits that result from investing in greater resilience, but there is no room for complacency.

“As our report highlights, there is more to be done to counter the increasing risks of severe weather that are likely to be associated with climate change. As well as making vital infrastructure services more resilient to flooding and storms, the country needs to adapt homes and other buildings so they are suitable for higher summer temperatures.”

Professor David Balmforth, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Flood Expert and Vice President, said:

“The Committee rightly highlights the growing need for a more comprehensive approach to UK flood resilience, particularly one that better reflects interdependencies – or the “domino effect” that can be felt across energy, transport, water and waste networks when a flood defence is overwhelmed. This disruption results in an even greater impact on society and the economy.”

Reacting to the Committee on Climate Change's new report on flooding and climate adaptation, Friends of the Earth described the report as “a damning indictment of how flood defences have fallen into disrepair under the Coalition” and called for Environment Secretary Owen Paterson to go.

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