Affected by flooding? If you are worried about flooding, phone 0845 988 1188 or see latest flood warnings. To find how flooding affects you as an individual or business visit Directgov, Business Link or the Environment Agency Flood pages.

In England, 5.2 million properties are at risk of flooding. Of these, 1.4 million are at risk from rivers or the sea, 2.8 million are at risk from surface water and 1 million are at risk from both. There are also an estimated 200 homes at risk of complete loss to coastal erosion in the next 20 years. It is possible 2,000 more could become at risk over this period.

Latest news

• 20 July 2011 – Environment Secretary meets insurers to discuss flood insurance
• 19 July 2011 – A fourth phase of implementation of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010 took place (England only)
• 18 July 2011 - The national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England was issued, following public consultation and a statutory period of review before Parliament. Alongside the national strategy a suite of supporting guidance aimed at flood and coastal erosion risk management authorities has been published.

Who is responsible for managing the risks?

Defra has national policy responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management. Defra does not build or manage flood defences. Instead, government provides funding through grants to the Environment Agency and local authorities. The Environment Agency also administers grants for capital projects to local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards.

What government is doing

The government has committed to take forward the findings of the Pitt Review to improve our flood defences, and prevent unnecessary building in areas of high flood risk. The Pitt Review was carried out following devastating flooding in 2007, and resulted in a series of recommendations for improving the way flood risk is managed in England.

Flood and coastal erosion risk management continues to represent a significant part of Defra’s spending.

The national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England provides a national framework for local communities to develop local partnerships and solutions to the flood and coastal erosion risks they face, and underpins the partnership approach to funding flood and coastal resilience projects. The national strategy ensures that local decisions are made in a consistent way, and that decisions made in one area take account of impacts on another.

Key publications and documents

• National flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England
• Appraisal of flood and coastal erosion risk management: A Defra policy statement (June 2009)
• Flooding and insurance – a roadmap to 2013 and beyond
• The National Flood Emergency Framework For England
• Surface Water Management Plan Technical Guidance
• The Government’s Response to Sir Michael Pitt’s Review of the summer 2007 Floods
• The Pitt Review: Lessons Learned from the 2007 Floods (2008)
• Pitt Progress Report: December 2009 (PDF 2.8 MB)
• The threat posed by tsunami to the UK (2005) (PDF 5.2 MB)
• Internal Drainage Board Review
• Agricultural Land Tribunal
• Flood Rescue Concept of Operations

Internal Drainage Board – notices

20 July 2011 – Changes to Internal Drainage Boards

• The Swale and Ure Drainage Board Order 2011 (PDF)

05 June 2011 – Changes to Internal Drainage Boards

• The Dunvm Drainage Commissioners Order 2011 (PDF)
• The Axe Brue Internal Drainage Board Order 2011 (PDF)