The Draft Bill was not mentioned in the Queen’s Speech but will be introduced for consultation and pre-legislative scrutiny in Spring 2009.

The Bill will create a simpler, more effective regime for flood and coastal erosion risk management and introduce measures for the improved sustainability of water resources including the avoidance of water scarcity.

The main areas the bill will focus on are listed below:
A joined-up, modern day approach to flood and coastal erosion risk management that takes into account all sources of flooding.

Simplified and rationalised funding arrangements that complement the new roles and responsibilities for flood and coastal erosion risk management.
Improved and more focused risk management of reservoir safety.
Measures to facilitate adaptation, resistance and resilience to the effects of climate change on water resources, particularly on the increasing severity of flood events.
Measures to facilitate land management which supports flood and coastal erosion risk management.
RICS welcomes the joined up approach that the Government has taken to the issue of flooding. RICS will be working to ensure that the identification of flood risk is linked to funding streams enabling corrective action to be taken by householders. 

RICS also acknowledges the skills gap that exists in both this and other climate change adaptation related fields and is keen to see the Government supports appropriate training provision. 

Contact: Daniel Cook (dcook@rics.org)