The Chief Executive of the Environment Agency is warning that the number of properties on flood plains could almost double over the next 50 years and says some communities may need to relocate out of harm’s way in the face of growing impacts of climate change.

In a speech at the World Water-Tech Innovation Summit in central London this morning, Sir James Bevan said that the country must continue to build and maintain strong defences to reduce the risk of communities being flooded.

However, in a climate emergency, communities will also need to become more resilient so that when flooding does happen it poses much less risk to people, does much less damage and life can get back to normal much quicker.

The EA Chief is calling for a new ‘twin track’ approach focused on better flood protection and resilience to deal with the climate emergency following weeks of record breaking river levels and flooding across the UK.

England has already received over 200% of its average February rainfall so far with some areas experiencing a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours. River levels have exceeded existing records across the country. The Rivers Colne, Ribble, Calder, Aire, Trent, Severn, Wye, Lugg and Derwent are among the many rivers where records have been broken due to continuous wet weather.

Image: Flood warnings map 25th February 2020

Sir James told his audience:

“The best way to defuse the weather bomb is better protection and stronger resilience. We need both.”

He went on to explain that the Environment Agency is already spending £2.6bn on building new flood defences that will better protect 300,000 properties by 2021 and over £1bn to maintain existing defences in England, pointing out that over 200,000 properties have already benefitted.

Of the £2.6bn, 55% is going to reduce flood risk from rivers and 45% is reducing risk on the coast. The investment programme will also better protect nearly 6,000 miles of motorways and local roads, 300 miles of railways and over 700,00 acres of farmland.

Later this year, the Environment Agency will publish its new floods strategy, setting out plans to prepare for and adapt to the risks that climate change is creating.

"We cannot realistically ban all development in the flood plain"

Acknowledging that it would be unrealistic to ban all development on flood plains Sir James said:

“We cannot realistically ban all development in the flood plain: it is where most of our towns and cities are, and because our country has so many rivers much of England is a flood plain. So as the population grows, we are likely to see the number of properties in the flood plain almost double over the next 50 years.”

“But the clue is in the name: flood plain. So we can and should insist that development only happens there if there is no real alternative, that any such development doesn’t increase other people’s flood risk….and that properties built on the flood plain are flood resilient, for example with the garages on the ground floor and the people higher up.”

Greater resilience also meant designing new places, buildings and infrastructure so that they are built to cope with flooding, coupled with building back better after a flood and not simply replacing what was there before.

"In a few places...it may be better for communities to relocate out of harm’s way"

However, he went on to warn:

“It means accepting the hard truth that in a few places, the scale of coastal erosion and the risk of flooding from rivers or the sea will become so big that it may be better for communities to choose to relocate out of harm’s way. So not only do we need to build back better. Sometimes we will need to build back in better places.”

The EA Chief is also calling for more natural methods to manage flood water like planting trees to retain water when it rains, restoring artificially straightened rivers to their natural curves to slow the flow of water, making space on land for water to collect there rather than flooding communities, creating wetland habitats that hold water and enhance biodiversity.

His speech comes as the Environment Agency continues to respond around the clock to the ongoing impacts of Storm Dennis.

Around 1,000 Environment Agency staff per day have been mobilised on the ground to operate flood defences and temporary pumps, clear debris from rivers, inspect damaged flood defences and make repairs.

Environment Agency operational teams have put up more than 6km of temporary flood barriers across the country and flood defences have protected nearly 25,000 properties from the ongoing impacts of Storm Dennis. Community information officers are also out supporting affected communities offering advice and assistance.

The Environment Agency is warning that a significant flood risk will remain for the next few days in parts of England due to the impacts of recent rain and some snowmelt, with rainfall expected to continue hitting areas along the rivers Severn, Wye, Ouse and Trent.

There are two severe immediate danger-to-life flood warnings for the River Severn at Ironbridge and Shrewsbury in Shropshire; 107 flood warnings, meaning that flooding is expected; and 164 flood alerts, meaning that flooding is possible, in places across the country.

Shrewsbury flooding: 'Highest ever' peak could be recorded

At Shrewsbury, river levels are rising at the Welsh Bridge river gauge and flooding of property is expected to continue. The Agency said it is “closely monitoring the situation” and expecting a prolonged peak at Welshbridge of 5.1m (17ft)  to 5.4m (18ft) overnight tonight which would be its highest-ever recorded water level. Further rainfall is forecast over the next 48 hours.

The EA is also monitoring the situation on the River Severn at the Wharfage, Ironbridge. The Agency is warning:

“Due to forecast river levels and ground conditions there is the potential for the Ironbridge barrier to overtop. Flooding of property and roads along the Wharfage in Ironbridge is possible. River levels are forecast to rise at the Buildwas river gauge to between 6.7m to 7.0m overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. We expect river levels to remain high over the rest of the week.”