Transition to current FCERM appraisal and partnership funding guidance
When you should use the new or updated FCERM guidance for appraisal, business cases and partnership funding in your project development.
Applies to England
This information is for all Risk Management Authorities (RMAs).
Why there are transition deadlines
Transition deadlines are the latest date a business case can be submitted for assurance using the previous guidance.
Transition deadlines apply when there are changes to forms and tools for:
Simple changes will have shorter transition deadlines compared to more complex changes.
We use transition deadlines so that you can be certain when changes to guidance, forms and tools need to be used.
About the transition deadlines
These transition deadlines replace all other FCERM appraisal and partnership funding transition arrangements. They apply to all Environment Agency and RMA projects, unless described in current transition deadlines.
You can use the latest guidance, forms or tools as soon as they are released.
In some cases, the changes may have an unreasonable effect on the cost or timetable of a business case that is already in development. You should speak to your local Environment Agency contact if you think this will affect you. You can seek approval for an exemption from the Environment Agency at FCRM_Investment@environment-agency.gov.uk.
In some cases, you may need to withdraw your business case from the Environment Agency assurance process. Your future resubmission must reflect any guidance changes that have happened since your original submission.
You should use the transition deadline that is associated with the business case stage your project is currently developing. This could be the strategic outline case (SOC), outline business case (OBC) or full business case (FBC) stage. Transition deadlines also affect business case updates, including changes using the business case change (BCUR) and FCERM4 forms. See the business case guidance for more information.
You may need approval for a business case change (BCUR) before your FBC is submitted for assurance. If so, you should use the guidance, forms or tools that apply to your current business case stage.
You may need approval for a business case change (BCUR or FCERM 4) after your FBC has been submitted for assurance. If so, you must use the same guidance, forms or tools you used to develop your FBC, unless stated in the current transition deadlines.
Email FCRM_Investment@environment-agency.gov.uk if you need copies of any original guidance.
Current transition deadlines
This table lists the dates after which you must use the latest version of the guidance when you submit your business case for assurance.
Some links are to documents held outside GOV.UK. Email admin_FCERMprojectsupport@environment-agency.gov.uk if you need access to them.
| Updates to guidance, forms and tools | Date after which you must use the guidance for an SOC | Date after which you must use the guidance for an OBC | Date after which you must use the guidance for an FBC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Updated property flood resilience guidance | 1 January 2024 | 1 January 2024 | 1 January 2024 |
| Property flood resilience business case template | 1 January 2024 | 1 January 2024 | 1 January 2024 |
| Allowing for inflation in FCERM projects | 12 June 2023 | 12 June 2023 | 12 June 2023 |
| Calculate GIA funding for FCERM projects 2020 | 1 October 2023 | 1 April 2024 | 1 April 2024 |
| Legal obligation business case template | 1 January 2024 | 1 April 2024 | 1 April 2024 |
| Sustain standard of service business case template | None | 1 January 2024 | 1 January 2024 |
| National receptor dataset | Use the latest version (not later than 6 months after publication) | Use the version used at SOC (check with more recent versions) | Use the version used at OBC |
You must use the FBC date if you are only submitting a single business case for assurance.
Transition deadlines that have recently ended
This table lists the transition deadlines that have recently ended.
| Updates to guidance, forms and tools | Date the transition arrangement ended |
|---|---|
| Carbon valuation guidance | 1 July 2023 |
| FCERM appraisal guidance 2022 | 1 April 2023 |
| Climate change – rainfall allowances | 1 January 2023 |
Updates to this page
Last updated 28 September 2023 + show all updates
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Added transition information for property flood resilience guidance and business case template, plus removed carbon guidance details.
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We have updated the transition arrangements to include the latest FCERM business cases, inflation and carbon guidance. We have removed reference to the PF calculator as this is no longer relevant.
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Edited the 'Current transition deadlines' table to include correct dates and a link for the carbon valuation guidance
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First published.