Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management
Overview
The FCERM Strategy for England (July 2020, updated June 2022) is the statutory framework under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The Roadmap to 2026 (June 2022) is the implementation plan. Three annual reports (2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25) provide delivery tracking. The NaFRA 2024 update introduced climate change projections for the first time. A floods funding consultation (closed July 2025) is reshaping the investment framework for a new programme launching April 2026.
Vision
“A nation ready for, and resilient to, flooding and coastal change — today, tomorrow and to the year 2100.”
Risk scale
| Risk type | Properties at risk |
|---|---|
| All flooding (current) | 6.3 million homes and businesses |
| All flooding (mid-century) | ~8 million (~1 in 4) |
| Coastal erosion | 3,500 by 2055 |
| Rivers and sea (high/medium risk) | 2.6 million |
| Surface water (high/medium risk) | 3.2 million |
| Groundwater | 122,000–290,000 |
Investment programme
- £10.5bn total flood defence investment (2021–2027) — current programme
- £2.65bn record investment (February 2025) — 2-year programme (April 2024–March 2026); protecting 52,000 properties
- New investment framework launching April 2026 — informed by consultation closed July 2025
Annual delivery tracking
Properties receiving improved protection
| Year | New properties protected | Cumulative since April 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26,440 | 59,000+ |
| 2023-24 | 28,920 | 88,000+ |
| 2024-25 | 27,500 | 116,000+ |
Capital investment
| Year | Capital investment |
|---|---|
| 2022-23 | £754m |
| 2023-24 | £918m |
| 2024-25 | £1,041m |
High-consequence asset condition
| Year | % at required condition |
|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 94.5% |
| 2024-25 | 92.8% (target: 98%) |
Asset condition is declining — from 94.5% in 2022-23 to 92.8% in 2024-25, moving further from the 98% target. 255,700 total assets; 90,200 managed by Environment Agency.
Major storm events
2023-24
- Storm Babet (Oct 2023): 5,000+ properties flooded; 7 fatalities
- Storm Ciarán (Nov 2023): 300 flooded; 43,000 protected
- Storms Gerrit & Henk (Dec 2023–Jan 2024): 2,500 flooded; 102,000 protected; multiple record river levels
2024-25
- 7 named storms; record May temperatures; fifth-wettest spring
- Storms Bert & Conall (Nov 2024): 1,600 flooded; 35,800 protected
- Storm Darragh (Dec 2024): Red weather warning; winds to 96mph
- ~5,000 properties flooded across England in 2024-25
National Flood Risk Assessment 2024 (NaFRA)
Updated December 2024 — first ever to include climate change projections (using UKCP18). Hybrid approach combining local detailed models with new national model. Key features:
Note on the 5.5m → 6.3m figure change: Prior FCERM reports (2022-23, 2023-24) quoted ~5.5 million properties at risk. NaFRA 2024 increased this to 6.3 million. This is not a change in actual flood risk — it reflects improved modelling methodology (climate-adjusted projections, finer spatial resolution, inclusion of surface water interactions). The risk was always present; NaFRA 2024 is better at measuring it. Comparing 5.5m (pre-NaFRA 2024) and 6.3m (post-NaFRA 2024) figures as if they represent the same measurement is misleading.
- Finer spatial resolution; flood depth information included
- 90% coverage at December 2024; targeting 100% coverage by Summer 2026
- New datasets released in phased rollout to August 2025
Innovation programmes (£200m total)
- Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme (FCRIP): £150m, 25 local authority projects
- Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme: £36m
- Adaptive Pathways Programme: £8m
- Natural Flood Management (NFM): £25m
- Internal Drainage Board Fund: £91m (250+ projects; 400,000 hectares)
Surface water flooding
Government response (March 2024) to NIC study (Nov 2022): 4 recommendations fully accepted, 5 partially accepted. 3.2 million properties at risk from surface water flooding — a distinct and growing risk. Nature-based solutions increasingly integrated alongside built infrastructure.
Carbon and net zero
EA targets: 45% emissions reduction by 2030; 90% by 2045-2050. Low carbon concrete now minimum requirement for FCERM projects. NZC4I programme launched. 268,000 tonnes CO₂e avoided through operational life of projects (2021-2023).
New investment framework (April 2026)
Consultation closed July 2025. Focus: simplified funding approach; prioritisation framework; alternative funding sources; devolution opportunities. The new framework replaces the existing programme and will govern investment beyond March 2026.
Socioeconomic targeting
59% of protected properties in highest-deprivation areas (0-40% IMD) in 2024-25. Property Flood Resilience repair grant: up to £5,000. Farming recovery fund: up to £25,000/farm. Frequently flooded allowance: £100m total; 53 communities.
Tensions flagged
- delivery-confidence-fiscal-ambition — Asset condition declining (92.8% vs. 98% target) despite record investment; the gap suggests maintenance and investment are not keeping pace with asset age and climate stress
- planning-timelines-2030-targets — New investment framework not in place until April 2026; the transition period creates uncertainty for local risk management authorities
Source files
raw/flood-coastal/fcerm-strategy-2020.mdraw/flood-coastal/fcerm-roadmap-2026.mdraw/flood-coastal/fcerm-report-2022-23.mdraw/flood-coastal/fcerm-report-2023-24.mdraw/flood-coastal/fcerm-report-2024-25.mdraw/flood-coastal/nafra-2024-report.mdraw/flood-coastal/surface-water-flooding-response.mdraw/flood-coastal/floods-funding-consultation-2025.md