Introduction and Overview

Alan RafeltRegional Strategic & Development Planning Team Leader

Making Space for Water

Making Space for Water MSfW is a wide ranging programme to improve flood

and coastal erosion risk management The aim is to manage risks by a portfolio of

approaches, so as to:

- reduce the threat to people and property

- deliver environmental, social and economic benefit, consistent with the Government's sustainable development principles

Making Space for Water Programme has been running since 2005 25 projects led by various organisations including:

- Environment Agency, Defra, Communities and Local Government (CLG), Highways Agency and the Association of British Insurers. 

19 are now complete. 

Who does what?

Environment Agency Strategic Overview Flood Defence is now Flood and Coastal Risk

Management We have a Strategic Overview for:

Inland Flooding Coastal erosion Coastal Flooding

Our role in inland flooding is still evolving• Key aim of the Strategic Overview is to ensure

sustainable long term management of flood & coastal erosion risk.

Floods & Water Bill Draft due to be published in April 09 The Bill will: Update, streamline & strengthen existing legislation Address all sources of flooding Clarify responsibilities Create a simpler & more effective regime for FCRM Due to pass into legislation in October 09

Catchment Flood Management Plans

Catchment Flood Management Plans

What are CFMPs?

How we developed CFMPs

The Final Plan

What next?

What are CFMPs?

CATCHMENT FLOOD MANAGEMENT PLANS (CFMPs)

CFMPs provide an overview of flood risk Consider flooding from all sources (inland,

including estuaries) Provide information on current flood risk Explain how flooding could change in 100

years Outline our flood risk management policies and

proposed actions

CATCHMENTS

CFMPs consider

Land use planning, Rural development, Agriculture, Critical infrastructure, Recreation, Nature conservation and Protection of the historic environment

CFMP DEVELOPMENT

£2m, 5 Years Plan Stages: Inception, Scoping, Draft, Final

Plan SEA Public consultation after Scoping and Draft Steering groups involved throughout Habitats Regulation Assessments

CFMPs influence and link with:

LOCAL & REGIONAL PLANS – SFRAs

SHORELINE MANAGEMENT PLANS (SMPs)

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

FLOODS DIRECTIVE

CFMP within the Wider Planning Framework

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

CFMPs aim to reduce flood risk while delivering other benefits.

These benefits include environmental objectives presented in River Basin Management Plans under WFD.

Aim of CFMPs

Develop Policies that will help us decide the best ways to manage future flood risk.

Take into account Climate change, urban development and land use management

Defra and the Agency will use CFMPs to determine future FRM investment.

Natural obstruction to flow?

Flood Risk Asset?

Is this the ideal?

Public consultation

Constructive feedback from Partners eg NE, RSPB, LAs

NFU concerned that we are protecting wildlife but not agriculture

Most concerns relate to implementation of policies and actions

Perception that implementation will be costly Willingness to be partners in implementation

The Final Plan

KEY MESSAGES

Flooding is a natural occurrence Development needs to acknowledge flood risk Legacy of past development in the flood plain The plans relate to the catchment and not just

flood plains CFMPs are far sighted - up to 100 years Must determine what is best for the catchment

CFMP ACTION PLAN

Implementing actions through partnership Caravan & camping sites Identifying risk to critical infrastructure Appropriate use of flood plain (PPS25) Influencing agricultural practices Integrated Drainage plans Reducing risk through awareness, warning,

contingency plans

What next?

Projects and Actions (examples include)

info

rms

Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs)& Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs)

Policy Planning

Delivery Planning

Plan toinfluence spatial

planning &development

Water Level Management

Plan

AssetManagement

Plan

Strategy Plan(major change in risk eg type or

location ofdefences)

Plan to influenceland

management

Flood Forecasting& Warning

Plan

EmergencyResponse

Plan*

FloodAwareness

Plan

SupportSuDS

partnershipprojects

Asset maintenance

projects

Projects to support planning enquiries

Incident planning projects

Asset improvement &

replacementprojects

Environmental enhancement

projects

etc

Sustainable Flood Risk Management

Guides scope of ...

Achieves ….

Urban drainage

plan*

Actions to influence

change in land management

Monitor & Review

FF & FW Service projects

Resilience & resistance projects

DisasterRecovery

Plan*

National Policy

Facilitates ...

National Flood RiskAssessment (NaFRA)

Reducing consequencesReducing likelihood

What next?

Develop a regional 25 year plan – regional priorities

One to one discussions with major partners Determine mutual benefits and timescales Seek multiple opportunities (eg habitat creation,

carbon sequestration etc) State of the Nation Report

A LIVING DOCUMENT

Monitor progress in achieving policies and actions

‘Living document’ that develops as we improve our understanding of flood risk

Six year review