The Government has recognised flooding as one of the most serious threats facing the country, yet only the next six years of funding for flood-risk management is assured. Alongside implementing short-term measures, the Chair of the Committee on Climate Change, Lord Deben, has recently urged the Government to develop ‘a new and comprehensive, long-term strategy to address flood risk.’
The National Flood Resilience Review (September 2016) commits the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to looking beyond 2021 at what communities and Government can do to reduce flood-risk and at how flooding can be addressed in core cities. The anticipated ‘25-year plan’ for the natural environment will also set out how to manage whole catchments ‘intelligently’, incorporating natural flood management to slow the flow. However, this has a number of challenges, not least the involvement of the many land owners and other stakeholders.

The discussion will be guided by the chair and an expert panel, and there will be plenty of time for questions from delegates. The evening will focus on three aspects, namely: * Sustainable management of flood-risk in the UK’s urban environments and farmed landscapes * Building resilience within communities and what roles should central and local government play in this? * What insights can geographical research bring to flood-risk management?
The Society will also be launching a summary report of policy recommendations following an expert flooding round-table held in May 2016.
I hope that you are able to join us for what promises to be a well-informed and lively discussion, among professionals in the field, on the future of flood-risk management in the UK.