Delivering sustainable flood risk management: guidance (2019)

Statutory context

The production of this guidance is one of the duties of the Scottish Ministers set out in the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (the Act). This guidance is issued by the Scottish Ministers to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the responsible authorities under section 2(5) and section 29 of the Act. The responsible authorities are local authorities, Scottish Water, Forestry Commission Scotland, Cairngorms National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and any other public bodies and office-holders designated as such by the Scottish Ministers.

Guidance is provided to SEPA and the responsible authorities on fulfilling their duties to:

• Act in the way best calculated to manage flood risk in a sustainable way; and
• Consider the social, environmental and economic impact of exercising flood risk management functions;

Guidance is also provided to SEPA on:

• Setting objectives and identifying measures for inclusion in flood risk management plans prepared under sections 27 and 28 of the Act. As required by section 29(2), the guidance addresses how the alteration and restoration of natural features and characteristics of the landscape should be considered.

The guidance is reviewed every six years or earlier if required to ensure continual improvement, and to reflect the experience and needs of those involved and assist further in delivering the main purpose of the Act, which is to reduce flood risk. This review was completed in June 2017.