Reducing the Risk and Impact of Flooding Conference: Key Learning Outcomes

The Reducing the Risk and Impact of Flooding Conference will return in January 2021, and due to the current circumstances it will be make full use of our new virtual events platform, Swapcard. Swapcard will enable you to network with your peers, put forward questions to our speakers and have full access to the recorded event and presentations for 30 days after the event itself.

Here we assess the key learning outcomes and practical takeaways from the day designed in partnership with the flooding community after extensive research.

Hear the latest policy and funding updates from Defra on the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England

The government is taking multiple steps to manage flood risk, with a doubling of flood and coastal defence investment across England, investing £5.2 billion over six years announced in the spending review.

Alice Baverstock, Flood Risk Management at the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), will provide the latest updates and further details around the five key areas of focus within the July 2020 strategy announcement. Furthermore, Defra will share how local authorities can secure additional funding to manage flood and coastal erosion risk.

Explore new ways to ensure long-term resilience to flooding

As the population continues to grow, we are likely to see the number of properties in the flood plain almost double across the next 50 years, according to the Environment Agency. All new development must not only be resilient to flooding, but also protect and enhance the environment.

To equip practitioners with the skills and guidance to make the best decisions at the right time, and help local authorities better plan and adapt to future flooding and coastal change, Stefan Laeger, will explore the Environment Agency’s latest strategy and outline how their 3 long-term ambitions aim to create a nation ready for and resilient to flooding.

Learn how to develop clean, green natural flood management solutions

More councils have developed natural techniques as a solution to flood alleviation, such as planting trees, building log dams and woodland management.

But what constitutes best practice? The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Leeds City Council will showcase best practice, providing top tips for how they have worked in partnership across Leeds to deliver an effective natural flood management programme and evaluating the lessons learnt from the project to provide innovative solutions for future projects.

Benchmark against best practice for flood prevention and response

Strengthen your understanding of the key priorities’ communities wish to address, and leave the conference equipped with the guidance to ensure these are at the core of your flood risk management strategies.

Paul Cobbing, Chief Executive, National Flood Forum, will highlight the importance of Flood Action Groups (FAGs) and how these have proven to develop coordinated flood management and response strategies across local communities.

We still have places remaining at this our conference on 21st January 2021. Register your place here to avoid disappointment.

See what else the IG Central and Local Government Hub has to offer.