Flooding costs the UK economy £2.2 billion a year, with projections indicating a 27% increase by 2050. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Environment Agency and partners have collaborated to identify and de-risk a more sustainable way to deliver flood and coastal resilience.
Up until the early 2000s, the UK’s flood and coastal erosion strategy was heavily focused on defence and hard engineering solutions, primarily involving the construction of physical barriers to prevent flooding. However, this approach has evolved significantly over the past two decades.
Today, the strategy emphasises resilience and adaptation through a basket of measures, including natural flood management (NFM).
NFM approaches deliver multiple benefits, such as sustainable flood resilience, biodiversity gains, improvements in water quality, carbon capture, and enhanced health and wellbeing for communities.
Embracing resilience and adaptation
This shift in strategy has led to an increase in NFM solutions as part of Defra’s £5.6 billion 2021 to 2027 flood and coastal risk management investment programme, and the setup of a £25 million ring fenced NFM fund by the Environment Agency.
The journey from a defence-focused strategy to one that embraces resilience and adaptation through NFM showcases the transformative power of evidence-based policy and a collaborative approach to research.
Policy developments and research advancements have progressed in tandem, with each informing and reinforcing the other. The timeline infographic illustrates how these parallel efforts have evolved over time. We describe these journeys separately (see ‘The policy journey’ and the ‘Powered by evidence and collaboration’ sections).
The policy journey
2004 to 2005: shifting the narrative
The Defra report ‘making space for water’ (PDF, 484KB) marked a significant shift in flood risk management. It advocated making space for water rather than simply stopping it, laying the groundwork for more sustainable approaches.
2008: the Pitt review
Following severe flooding in 2007, the Pitt review (JESIP website) emphasised the importance of working with nature to mitigate flood impacts. This was a pivotal moment, highlighting the need for a range of tools and catchment-based solutions.
2010 to 2017: pioneering NFM approaches
During this period the Environment Agency recommended NFM approaches pioneered by NERC-funded researchers. Key publications and resources, such as the Environment Agency’s ‘working with natural processes’ report (PDF, 1661KB), provided a comprehensive evidence base for NFM.
2018: Defra’s 25-year environment plan
Defra’s 25-year environment plan (PDF, 11MB) underscored the importance of NFM and committed to expanding its use. This plan aimed to integrate NFM solutions alongside traditional defences.
2020: NFM in national strategies
NFM became a fundamental part of national flood management strategies, with the government committing to doubling the number of NFM projects. This commitment was reflected in various policy statements and strategic documents.
2022: mainstreaming NFM
An Environment Agency report on the NFM pilot programme provided valuable insights that shaped efforts to mainstream NFM. This included embedding NFM outputs in the work of the Environment Agency and its partners.
2023: £25 million ring fenced NFM fund
The Environment Agency launched a £25 million ring fenced NFM fund to accelerate investment in NFM and inform the way NFM is delivered and funded in the future. The programme was informed by the research of NERC and others.
Powered by evidence and collaboration, the research journey
The success of NFM in the UK is a testament to the power of partnerships and collaboration. Over the past two decades, NERC, Defra, the Environment Agency and other partners have worked together to build a strong evidence base that has powered policy innovation and practical implementation.
2000 to 2010: evaluating NFM approaches
NERC research during this period focused on evaluating different NFM approaches, helping to build an understanding of how local changes in land cover and management affect water flows and flood risk downstream.
This foundational work influenced key policy documents like the Defra ‘making space for water’ strategy, which shifted the narrative towards more sustainable flood management practices.
2009: demonstrating effectiveness through pilot projects
Defra and NERC launched pilot projects, such as one in Pickering, Yorkshire, which demonstrated that NFM could effectively reduce flood risk at a lower cost compared to traditional methods.
These projects provided concrete examples of NFM’s potential, leading to national recognition and further funding for similar initiatives.
2015 to 2021: filling evidence gaps and practical implementation
Collaborative efforts between Defra, NERC, Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Natural Resources Wales focused on addressing gaps in evidence required to mainstream NFM.
Defra’s £15 million NFM programme and NERC’s £4 million NFM programme provided comprehensive insights into the effectiveness of various NFM measures, facilitating their practical implementation across the UK.
2021: integrating NFM into major programmes
NFM became a key component of the £150 million Defra-Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. This integration was informed by previous research and pilot projects, ensuring that NFM strategies were based on robust scientific evidence and could be effectively scaled up.
Investing for the future
NERC and partners continue to invest in research, training and innovation that will support a sustainable and resilient future for flood management in the UK.
A £40 million NERC investment in the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure launched in 2024, for example, aims to enhance the UK’s resilience to floods and droughts.
This initiative will provide near real-time data that can support effective NFM plans, enhance predictions, impact assessments and mitigation measures, ensuring the UK leads in hydrological research and solutions.
The Environment Agency Research Manager, Floods and Coastal Erosion Risk Management, said:
NERC’s investment in research, and partnership approach to working with us and Defra, has played an influential role in changes to flood and coastal erosion strategy and investment.
The academic research provided essential evidence that increased confidence in the effectiveness of NFM measures and steered the design of new investments.
Contributing towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs we’re contributing towards are:
- 3: good health and well-being
- 6: clean water and sanitation
- 11: sustainable cities and communities
- 13: climate action
- 15: life on land
Find out more
Learn more about the benefits of NERC’s involvement with NFM in our timeline.
Top image: Leaky dam construction on the Upper Aire Project. Credit: Mike Leonard