The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the terms of reference for the new independent review of property flood resilience (PFR) it commissioned on 8^th January 2025.

The review will:

• take a systems view to bring together different sectors
• secure and agree an approach to property level flood resistance and resilience
• help to floodproof built environment now and into the future

Defra says this will need a range of stakeholders to work together so that all approaches to flood risk management integrate effectively. These stakeholders must build resilience into the public consciousness, and should include:

• the insurance industry
• developers
• building and development industries
• manufacturers and suppliers

The work will include a review of progress made since the 2016 Bonfield property level resilience action plan which set out recommendations from the Property Level Flood Resilience Roundtable, chaired by Dr. Peter Bonfield.

The final report from the review will include a new action plan, setting out a clear set of actions, committed to by the various stakeholders.

The review and action plan will set out clear and agreed actions and the roles of each sector aimed at increasing the uptake of measures to further strengthening building resilience.

The review will:

• identify what actions individuals, householders and business, can, should and/or must be expected to take to secure the long-term flood resilience of their property, and how these can be encouraged
• identify what research and actions specific industries will be expected to take to support property level and development wide resilience, including providing immediate short-term property level interventions to prepare for an imminent flood event such as household emergency flood kits – industries include construction, insurance, lenders, developers, social landlords, manufacturers, retailers, and landowners
• consider what is needed to make sure installed property flood resilience (PFR) measures are appropriately used and maintained so they remain effective at the time of need – this covers measures that reduce the amount of water entering buildings or limit the damage caused if water does enter a building
• consider what policies, actions or regulation government needs to take to encourage, influence, support or require activity to be delivered consistently and fairlyidentify knowledge requirements, underpinning standards, consumer confidence and research needs so that customers can take informed action

The report and action plan will focus on actions that will secure a more resilient future for the built environment including homes, places of work, and the associated public spaces.

The actions will include:

• actions to secure a thriving and trusted PFR market
• the use of permeable surfaces where appropriate
• opportunities to encourage the use of nature-based solutions – for example for gardens, driveways and within new developments

The action plan will not include actions related to ‘traditional’ flood defences (for example flood walls or embankments) or drainage (for example highway drainage or sewer systems). However, the review may consider and comment on the impact on and opportunities for wider flood risk management.

This could include:

• river defences
• upstream interventions
• drainage requirements

The lead reviewer will work with relevant industry and public sector stakeholders to identify actions, dependencies, and need for collaboration. They will identify leaders from each sector to champion PFR and commit to continued engagement and influencing. This will make sure culture change and commitment to action continues in the long-term.

The final report, which should be provided to the Environment Agency and Defra in Autumn 2025, will include:

• findings from a review of the current position of the PFR market
• the engagement of industry in developing, promoting, and delivering resilience
• the relevant government policies 
• opportunities for change
• proposals for next steps

The action plan will clearly identify who will be responsible for immediate and ongoing action to grow access to and take up of PFR.

Scope of the work and report

The work and final report will aim to answer the following questions:

• what progress in embedding PFR has been made since the 2016 PFR action plan?
• what enablers have created opportunities for supply and demand growth over the last decade?
• what barriers to take up have hindered growth in the supply and demand for PFR in England?
• what gaps in research and development remain, and how can these be addressed?
• what are the reasons and/or incentives for householders and businesses to take control of actions to increase their property resilience to flooding?
• who/what are the main (non-public sector) players/industries who do/can/should proactively take actions to mitigate flood risk at development/local/regional or national level (including public spaces)?
• what are the sector specific opportunities the relevant industries and/or government could take to increase non-public sector action for flood resilience at property, local, regional or national level?

The last point on sector specific opportunities includes:

• how can industry innovation and standards (including for surveyors/expert advice, products, and installers) be improved and/or championed to ensure confidence in PFR products and installation efficacy, to encourage take up of PFR measures by developers, householders, and business?
• what is needed to provide the necessary confidence for insurance, builders, planners, retail, and individuals to promote and take up flood resilience measures?
• how can these actions provide opportunities for reduced flood insurance premiums and future claims costs?

Other issues not covered by the review which may be referenced to help inform medium and longer-term policy development include:

• analysis or recommendations relating to current or future levels, criteria/policy rules and/or distribution routes for government or wider public funding
• risk management authority statutory responsibilities
• scope and reach of the existing Flood Re insurance scheme eligibility criteria
• coastal flooding and erosion
• any overlaps or intersections with the independent commission of the water sector regulatory system

Click here to dowload the 2016 Bonfield property level resilience action plan