Flooding | LocalGov

Councils must adapt to extreme weather threat

24/01/2024

Cara Jenkinson, Cities Manager, Ashden discusses how local authorities can adapt to the threat of extreme weather.

Report warns of 'lethal' climate change risks

17/01/2024

With London and the UK ‘underprepared’ for extreme weather and an absence of national leadership on climate, regional government must adapt at pace, a new report argues.

PAC: New housing continues to be built in high risk areas

17/01/2024

More than half of councils rarely or never inspect a new housing development to check compliance with flood risk planning conditions, new PAC report says.

Preparing for future floods

16/01/2024

After Storm Henk, APSE principal advisor Rob Bailey sets out some of the steps local authorities should take to improve flood preparedness.

Government launches Storm Henk flood fund

08/01/2024

Local authority areas that have been hit by flooding in the wake of Storm Henk are now able to apply for financial support.

Notts residents warned of record Storm Henk floods

05/01/2024

Nottinghamshire County Council has declared a major incident as Storm Henk causes near-record levels of flooding.

Only 5% of public feels ready for climate change

15/11/2023

Most of the public feels unprepared for the effects of climate change following the extreme heat, flooding and storms of recent years, LGA poll reveals.

Road conditions add flood risk to pothole ‘crisis’

27/09/2023

English councils received hundreds of compensation claims for flood damage in recent years as they struggled to maintain roadside drainage, according to study.

Gloucestershire to hold ‘urgent’ flood summit

20/09/2023

Agencies are set to consider flood prevention plans for Gloucestershire after county councillors called for an ‘urgent’ meeting.

The River Thames Scheme: infrastructure to deliver a greener future

26/07/2023

Carolyn McKenzie, director of Environment at Surrey County Council, discusses how the River Thames Scheme will respond to the challenges of climate change.

Council chiefs call for more climate change support

08/06/2023

The Government must do more to help local areas adapt to climate change, councils in England have warned.

Decision to pull £50m flood scheme ‘disappointing’

15/05/2023

The Government’s decision not to go ahead with a £50m flood prevention scheme has been described as ‘disappointing’ by council leaders.

First communities to receive extra flooding support announced

05/04/2023

The first communities in England to receive better flood protection as part of the Government’s £100m Frequently Flooded Allowance have been announced.

Planning overhaul needed for climate change ‘resilience’, think tank says

08/03/2023

Successfully adapting to climate change will need an overhaul of the planning system to create measurable local targets, according to researchers.

Councils urged to plan better for floods

21/02/2023

Planning experts have called on local authorities to do more to embed climate resilience into new developments and local plans.

Somerset councils declare ‘major incident’ in response to floods

18/01/2023

Local authorities across Somerset have joined the Environment Agency (EA) in declaring a major incident because of flood risk in the county.

Auditors warn of workforce shortages in flooding sector

15/12/2022

Local areas in Wales are facing a shortage of workers with experience in dealing with the impact of floods, auditors say.

Is our housing equipped to deal with the increasing threat of floods?

14/12/2022

Cat White, director, Planning at consultancy Turley, discusses the challenges for housebuilders and local authorities as climate-related flood risks increase.

600,000 properties face flooding risk

29/11/2022

An estimated 600,000 properties face flooding in the near future without action to reduce urban runoff and improve drainage systems, research warns.

Flood plans should touch on surface risks, councils told

22/11/2022

Local authorities must do more to prepare for flash flooding as official figures reveal tens of thousands of homes are built in at-risk areas.

Planning guidance updated to boost ‘flood resilience’

26/08/2022

Changes to planning guidance will provide better flood protection for new homes, according to the Government.

It’s time to take climate adaptation seriously

28/07/2022

It is no longer enough for councils to focus solely on net zero for their climate emergency plans, says Jo Wall. Adaptation should be key, embedded by whole-systems thinking.

New £100m fund to help communities hit repeatedly by flooding

26/07/2022

Communities that have been repeatedly flooded over the past decade will benefit a new ring-fenced £100m fund.

Defra's £2.6bn flood protection scheme has protected over 314,000 homes

12/04/2022

A £2.bn flood protection scheme has exceeded its original targets by 14,000 homes, the Government has announced.

London flash flooding review launched

21/12/2021

An independent review examining the flash flooding that affected many parts of the capital in July 2021 has launched.

Over one million homes at risk of flooding

23/11/2021

As many as 1.5 million households in the UK are at risk of flooding but are yet to take any action, the Environment Agency has said.

Gove warned of climate change floods risk

22/11/2021

Local government secretary Michael Gove was today urged to align UK housing policy with climate change.

Councils must battle inaction after announcing a climate emergency

15/11/2021

Gayle Monk outlines the key considerations councils must make to better address the situation.

Adaptation in danger of being ‘undercooked’ at COP26

13/10/2021

The importance of adapting local communities to make them more resilient in the face of the climate emergency is not being taken seriously enough, the Environment Agency today warned.

Tighter planning rules to protect communities from flood risk

29/07/2021

Councils should ensure all planning applications made in flood risk areas are referred to ministers for approval, under new guidance published today.

Calls to declare a climate and ecological emergency

06/05/2021

A climate and ecological emergency should be declared to avoid a health and mental health 'catastrophe', the Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned today.

Local areas to receive £150m to trial flooding responses

29/03/2021

Twenty-five areas across England have been selected to receive a share of a £150m fund to develop new flooding responses.

The future of rental in local government

03/03/2021

LocalGov found out how the regional and local COVID-19 testing centres were able to be built in just 12 hours.

MPs call for review of local authority flood funding

26/02/2021

The Government needs a better understanding on whether funding allocated to local authorities to prevent flooding is matching local risks, MPs have warned today.

Living in a climate emergency

11/02/2021

Cllr Scott Patient outlines how Calderdale MBC is working with partners and communities to both reduce flood risk and cut the impacts of climate change – but help is needed, and the council is calling on the Government to unlock resources.

MPs accuse Government of lacking clear flood-resilience targets

08/02/2021

Local authority leaders have welcomed a call from MPs urging the Government to provide councils with the resources they need to protect vulnerable communities from flooding.

The Bay – a pivot to purpose

26/01/2021

Tim Pope and Sam Plum explain why local government reorganisation can be used as a catalyst for a new generation of councils that reflect their local economies and can lead the recovery.

Eight in ten councils hit by climate-related incidents

14/12/2020

Eight in ten councils have suffered climate-related incidents in the last five years, new research has revealed.

Flood funding for councils may not be enough, watchdog finds

27/11/2020

The Government is unable to prove councils have enough funding for flood defences, a spending watchdog has discovered.

Majority of councils lack expertise to deal with flood risk, survey reveals

28/07/2020

Local authorities are facing a critical shortage of the expertise needed to plan for climate change, a new survey has found.

Calls to devolve £5.2bn flood defences funding

14/07/2020

Councils have called for funding for flood defences to be devolved to local areas, after the Government announced its new long-term plan to tackle flooding in England.

Budget 2020: Flood-hit areas to share £200m defence fund

11/03/2020

The money will go to 25 areas based on criteria including repeated flooding.

Former 'red wall' support devolution to tackle climate change

10/03/2020

Three-quarters of former ‘red wall’ seats believe councils need extra funding and powers to deal with the climate emergency, a new survey has revealed.

Flood infrastructure funding increased by only £3m over decade

26/02/2020

Central Government funding for existing flood infrastructure has only increased by £3m over the last decade, according to a new analysis.

Environment Agency chief executive calls for more flood resilience

25/02/2020

A new ‘twin track’ approach focused on better flood protection and resilience is needed to deal with the climate emergency, the chief executive of the Environment Agency says.

70,000 homes ‘at risk’ of having no flood insurance

21/02/2020

A think tank has warned that there are around 70,000 homes that are at risk of having no flood insurance because they are built in high-risk flooding zones.

Government announces financial support for flood-hit areas

19/02/2020

The Government has announced councils in areas affected by recent flooding will receive grants to cover the cost of council tax and business rates reliefs.

Government activates emergency fund in the wake of Storm Dennis

17/02/2020

Local government secretary Robert Jenrick today activated the Government’s emergency financial assistance scheme for areas affected by Storm Dennis.

Repairs begin on Brislington flood defence scheme

03/02/2020

A £2m scheme to protect more than 100 properties in Bristol from flooding has begun.

From grey to green: The role of SuDS in Britain's green spaces

31/01/2020

Ian Geeson describes why green spaces are a key element of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and the role they play in helping Britain to avoid flooding.

Council advises residents to ‘clean up safely’ after flash floods

20/12/2019

Cornwall Council has urged residents affected by the flash flooding in the last 24 hours to clean up safely and keep evidence of flood damage.

Millions more to be affected by flooding as Greenland's ice melt faster than expected

11/12/2019

More than 40 million people than expected will be affected by coastal flooding by 2100 a new study has revealed.

Future Forum North: Rotherham flood response hampered by scandal

06/12/2019

The child abuse scandal in Rotherham continues to cast a long shadow over the work of the council - even affecting its work to tackle last month’s flooding.

£131m sea defences given the go-ahead

05/12/2019

Permission for sea defences in Portsmouth has been granted in what has been described as an ‘important milestone’ for the city's flood protection measures.

Herefordshire councils reimbursed for flooding costs

02/12/2019

Local authority areas in Herefordshire are to be reimbursed for costs incurred as a result of flooding.

A more holistic approach to tackling flood risk

21/11/2019

The only way to mitigate against flooding effectively is to understand how the whole, complex system works – not by making rules one development at a time, as Nick Fraser explains.

Change law to enable volunteers to respond to disasters, Red Cross says

20/11/2019

The British Red Cross is calling for the law to be changed so that voluntary groups are included in planning responses to emergencies and disasters.

Councils in flood-hit areas to receive £500 per affected house

13/11/2019

Local authorities in areas that have experienced flooding will be given £500 for each affected house to help with recovery efforts under the recovery scheme.

Emergency Bellwin scheme activated in response to flooding

11/11/2019

Councils will be able to apply to be reimbursed for costs incurred as part of their response to the heavy rainfall that has hit the regions in recent days.

Whitehall announces over £60m in flood defence funding

11/09/2019

Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers has announced £62m of funding to help protect communities from floods.

Three projects secure funding to increase flood resilience

23/07/2019

Three projects will receive up to £700,000 each to research and test ways to make homes more flood resilient.

UK needs £1bn a year to combat flood threat

09/05/2019

A long-term strategy to ensure infrastructure is resilient to flooding and coastal change by 2050 has been unveiled today by the Environment Agency.

Whitehall launches consultation on local funding of flood defences

16/01/2019

The Government today announced that it wishes to ‘begin a conversation’ on increasing local funding for flood and coastal erosion management.

A thirst for water management

09/08/2018

Neill Robinson-Welsh explains how ‘smart’ non-potable water technology can simultaneously help mitigate flood and water stress.

Housing should be ‘more resilient’ to flood damage, architects say

04/05/2018

The Government needs to help homes and communities become more resilient to flood damage rather than focus on keeping the water out, charity says.

Belfast appoints resilience commissioner

10/04/2018

Belfast City Council has appointed a new commissioner to help the city prepare for any scenario that might prevent it from functioning properly.

District councils could be handed flood risk management responsibilities

16/01/2018

Local communities could have more say in how rivers are managed after a consultation which aims to transfer ‘flood risk management activities’ to district councils.

Evidence supporting natural flood management published

31/10/2017

The Environment Agency has for the first time published all of the evidence about the role of natural flood management in reducing flood risk in one place.

£30m flooding defence scheme announced

27/07/2017

A Yorkshire council has welcomed the Government’s announcement of £30m of funding for a major flood defence scheme.

Nine tenths of England’s floodplains ‘no longer work properly’

01/06/2017

A shocking 90% of the country’s floodplains are not fit for purpose, according to a new study.

Whitehall’s approach to sustainable drainage ‘sub-standand’, MPs warn

27/04/2017

MPs have criticised the Government’s ‘sub-standard’ approach to sustainable drainage (SuDs) for failing to protect communities from flood risk.

Whitehall ‘missing opportunities’ to tackle ‘ineffective’ flood defences

24/01/2017

MPs have accused the Government of ‘missing opportunities’ to act on an environment committee’s report warning of ‘ineffective’ flood management.

Lack of Whitehall policy preventing ‘natural' flood management methods

22/12/2016

The lack of a clear government policy is holding up 'natural' methods of flood management, according to campaigners.

Here comes the rain – are you prepared?

07/12/2016

Ian Carr outlines how councils can ensure they have an effective flood response plan in place.

Councils warn people to prepare for impact of flash flooding

23/11/2016

Council leaders have issued advice on how to prepare for flash flooding, as Storm Angus continues to hit parts of the country.

MPs demand ‘overhaul’ of Environment Agency’s flood management role

02/11/2016

MPs have demanded a complete ‘overhaul’ of the Environment Agency’s role in flood management—a move environmentalists have dubbed a ‘terrible idea’.

Councils reveal extent of flooding last winter

03/10/2016

More than 15,000 homes and businesses in the north of England were hit by floods last winter, according to the latest survey.

Council accuses Government of not taking the risk of flooding 'seriously enough'

09/09/2016

The Government has set aside £12.5m for new temporary flood defences in England after finding more than 500 key infrastructure sites were still vulnerable.

Council considers using parks as flood defences

01/08/2016

Sheffield City Council is consulting on proposals to divert floodwater into parks and woodlands in the event of a severe storm.

Councils must ‘work together’ to tackle threat of flooding, environment agency urges

06/07/2016

More than five million properties in England are at risk from flooding, according to the chief executive of the environment agency (EA).

Flash flooding disrupts final hours of EU referendum

24/06/2016

Poor weather caused disruption in parts of the country as voters made their way to polling booths.

Local authorities warn of flash floods caused by global warming

16/06/2016

Councils across the UK have launched awareness campaigns to highlight the devastating impact of flash floods.

Councils let down by flood protection funding

09/06/2016

Local authorities are not receiving the necessary support to prepare for or mitigate the impacts of flooding, a new report has warned.

Councils call for new homes to be made flood-proof

03/05/2016

Developers should be legally required to install anti-flood measures when building new homes, according to calls from town hall chiefs.

Residents should ‘watch their posteriors’ when nature calls, councillor warns

21/04/2016

A councillor has warned residents of Cork to ‘watch their posteriors’ after a man was bitten by a rat while using his toilet.

Nothing ‘happening on the ground’ to protect against floods, says council leader

01/04/2016

The leader of Leeds council criticised the Government yesterday for delays in taking the necessary steps to reduce the risk of flooding in the city.

Flooding cost 'still rising'

29/03/2016

The cost of damage caused by floods over the winter has reached nearly £250m and is still rising, according to the latest figures.

Budget 2016: Funding boost for flood defences

16/03/2016

Chancellor George Osborne has given a boost to infrastructure in today’s Budget with investment plans flood defences, energy, housing and major projects.

Winter floods see 30,000 tonnes of goods sent to landfill

11/02/2016

Landfill tax paid as a result of the winter floods should be returned to councils so that they can invest in jobs and growth, local government leaders have demanded.

Managing the unmanageable

10/02/2016

With flooding becoming more commonplace in Britain, local authorities need to be prepared for the worst. Andrew Jepp reports.

Councils could face claims over pumped floodwater damage

26/01/2016

Local authorities have been warned to prepare for claims from farmers affected by pumped floodwater after a council in Yorkshire lost a test case.

Cameron pledges £40m to rebuild flood defences after Storm Eva

04/01/2016

David Cameron yesterday promised a package of more than £40m to rebuild and improve flood efences in the aftermath of Storm Eva.

Flood affected communities exempt from paying council tax and business rates

09/12/2015

Flood affected communities will not face council tax or business rate bills for the homes and businesses they have been displaced from, Greg Clark announced yesterday.

Councils to be fully-funded for clean-up costs in the wake of Storm Desmond

08/12/2015

The areas that were most severely hit by last weekend’s storm will have 100% of their costs reimbursed, communities secretary Greg Clark has announced amid criticisms of cuts to flood defences.

Planning authorities must act to preserve the UK’s coastline

12/11/2015

Only one in three coastal planning authorities in England have up-to-date policies in place to deal with rising sea levels and more frequent storms, the National Trust warns in a new report.

EE to send free flood warnings in Devon and Cornwall

14/07/2015

Free flood warnings are to be sent to EE customers in Devon and Cornwall following a successful trial in Staffordshire earlier this year.

'Nibbling' away at urban surface water flooding

13/07/2015

David Smoker makes the case for a cohesive SUDs retrofit programme.

Stemming the flow

07/04/2015

Are local authorities truly geared up for the upcoming move to Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) approval as part of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)?

Balfour Beatty awarded £250m flood defences deal

10/03/2015

Balfour Beatty has secured a £250m contract to help strengthen the tidal flood defences along the Thames Estuary.

The spotlight off SuDS?

09/12/2014

Stuart Crisp takes a look at the potential impact and pitfalls of the proposed changes to SuDS regulations.

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