Future of flood and coastal defence
Foresight project looking at the risks to the UK from flooding and coastal erosion over the next 100 years.
Flooding can have a devastating effect on people’s homes and businesses. There are around £200 billion worth of assets and nearly 2 million properties in flood risk areas in England and Wales.
The aim of this project was to produce a long-term (30 to 100 years) view of the future of flood and coastal defence in the UK that takes account of the uncertainties and can be used as a basis to guide policy.
The project covered the whole country and looked at flooding from rivers and the sea, as well as internal flooding in towns and cities. It also considered the risks of coastal erosion.
The work was carried out by over 60 experts, led by Professor Edward Evans, visiting professor at Glasgow University. A series of working papers and scenarios were produced looking at the main flood risk drivers.
The project was sponsored by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.