Flood infrastructure underinvestment ‘unacceptable’, says CIWEM

This response follows a recent report by the Public Accounts Committee, which identified significant underinvestment by the Government in the UK’s flood risk management infrastructure.

As a result, CIWEM has warned that the burden on businesses and households exposed to flood risk can be “devastating”, as well as restricting their potential for growth.

It is now calling for public and private stakeholder investment in infrastructure to deliver broader benefits, such as flood risk management schemes which reduce the risk, enhance the environment and encourage growth.

Meanwhile, the Institution adds that funding generated from stakeholders should be used to increase the available budget rather than replace funding provided by the Treasury.

CIWEM executive director, Nick Reeves said forcing businesses and properties to compete for private sector funding to protect against the risk of flooding is “immoral”, adding that the plans could see the National Planning Policy Framework loosen restrictions on new development in flood plans.

This, he argued could “potentially put even more people at risk of the often devastating life impacts of flooding”.

Carys Matthews