Implementation of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009: report to the Scottish Parliament

1. Ministerial Foreword

This report to Parliament outlines progress made in implementing the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.

The first ever Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans were published in 2015 and 2016 respectively. These ensure long-term proactive planning and investment decisions protect the most vulnerable and those areas at greatest risk of flooding across the whole of Scotland. Actions identified are now being implemented across Scotland, whilst the second flood risk management cycle is underway to identify future actions.

The commitment made by the Scottish Government in 2016 to provide £420 million over 10 years gives Local Authorities the certainty they need to deliver actions set out in their Local Flood Risk Management Plans.

But progress is not limited to flood protection schemes and works. Investment and advances have also been made in expanding and improving flood forecasting and warning, flood resilient properties, and in support for the Scottish Flood Forum and community resilience groups.

As part of a recent visit during resilience week I have seen at first-hand how Clackmannanshire Council, the Scottish Flood Forum and responders have worked proactively with communities to tackle flood risk. The application of new technologies like RiverTrack has helped communities to gain a better understanding of their potential flood risks so they can take the necessary action to protect themselves, their property or their business.

We continue to increase our understanding of flood risk in Scotland. Collaborative projects like our Dynamic Coast investigate the resilience of Scotland's coast. The Interreg project Building with Nature links us to European partners to further our understanding on natural flood management.

In December 2018 SEPA published the second National Flood Risk Assessment. This gives us the clearest picture yet of flood risk in Scotland, and embeds climate change and a comprehensive range of social, environmental and economic impacts into a single assessment. The scale of the challenge ahead is not to be underestimated. Going forward we must manage this risk, adapt to the changing climate and continue to empower and enable our communities to help themselves.

Roseanna Cunningham