Flood Risk Management In
Scotland: Setting Objectives
and Selecting Measures
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Scottish Government

Responsible for
environment &
flooding issues
 Transposed Floods
Directive
 Policy framework
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Scottish Environment Protection
Agency (SEPA)






Preliminary Flood Risk
Assessment
Flood Risk & Hazard Maps
Flood Risk Management
Plans
Flood Warning
Flood Risk Advice
River Basin Management
Plans
Local Authorities





32 Local Authorities in Scotland
Responsible for inspection and
maintenance of watercourses
Powers & funding to undertake flood
protection works
Responsible for road drainage
Key roles in land use planning and
emergency response
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Scottish Water




1 Municipal Water Authority
Responsible for buildings drainage (typ. up
to 1 in 30 years) and sewerage network
Duty to undertake assessment of flood risk
from sewerage network
Leading 6 integrated catchment studies in
main urban areas
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
General Duties



Integrate and coordinate flood risk related
functions
Aim to reduce overall flood risk
Aim to achieve objectives set out in Flood
Risk Management Plans
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
National Flood Risk Assessment




125,000 properties at
risk
1 in 22 homes at risk
1 in 13 businesses
£720m to £850m
average annual
damages
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
FRM Plans

14 Local Plan
Districts
FRM Planning framework
2011
2013
2016
Local partnerships
 Partnership working between local authorities, Scottish Water and SEPA
Maps and Assessments
 Identify main sources of
flood risk and their impacts
 Develop information
about catchments and
coasts
Flood Risk Management
Strategies
 Main hazards and impacts
 Catchment information
 Objectives for reducing risk
 Best combination of actions
to achieve objectives
 Produced by SEPA, within
local partnerships
National and local advisory groups
 Consultation with wider stakeholders
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Local Flood Risk
Management Plans
 Action delivery – what, when,
who
 Funding arrangements
 Actions for surface water
management
 Covers each six year period
 Produced by lead local
authority, within local
partnerships
Appraisal process: key stages
1. Define the problem
Mapping and assessments
5. Prioritise Measures
Agreement with funding bodies
2. Set Objectives
Avoid, Protect, Prepare
4. Appraise Measures
Assess costs and benefits
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
3. Identify Measures
Selecting and screening
What’s practical and feasible?
1. Define the problem
Mapping and assessments
2. Set Objectives
Avoid, Protect, Prepare
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Example OBJECTIVES
AVOID
 Avoid
increasing the
number of properties at
risk
PROTECT

PREPARE

Reduce likelihood of
flooding to homes,
businesses, and
infrastructure
Increase number of
people covered by flood
warning
Increase number of
properties with resilience
measures
Improve resilience to
flooding
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
1. Mapping &
Assessment
2. Set Objectives
4. Appraisal of Measures
evaluate impacts
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
3. Identify Measures
What’s practical and feasible?
Appraise Measures



Assess subset of measures using a number of criteria
• adaptability to climate change
• Key economic criteria – whole life costs, cost-benefit
ratio
• Flood Risk Impacts – economic, social and
environmental criteria
• Other wider social and environmental impacts
No weightings or formula – judgement/discussion will be
key to decision making
Appraisal will be carried out against 5 options
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Appraise Measures



Assess subset of measures using a number of criteria
• adaptability to climate change
• Key economic criteria – whole life costs, cost-benefit
ratio
• Flood Risk Impacts – economic, social and
environmental criteria
• Other wider social and environmental impacts
No weightings or formula – judgement/discussion will be
key to decision making
Appraisal will be carried out against 5 options
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Strategic Appraisal
Measures
Options Hierarchy

1.
2.
3.
Property relocation
 Asset Management
Flood Forecasting &
Warning
 Property level
protection
 Natural Flood
Management
 Other Flood Protection
Works
4.
5.
Do Nothing
Do Minimum
Reduce risk through investment in nonstructural measures (flood warning, property
resilience)
In addition to non-structural measures,
reduce risk through use of Natural Flood
Management
In addition to above, reduce risk through use
of other engineered solutions
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
Identification of most sustainable
combination of measures to reduce
flood risk in PVAs
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
1. Mapping &
Assessment
5. Prioritise Measures
Agreement with funding bodies
4. Appraisal of Measures
Costs and Benefits
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods
2. Set Objectives
3. Identify Measures
What’s practical and feasible?
www.sepa.org.uk/flooding
12th Meeting of Working Group F on Floods