Slow The Flow, a national educational charity focused on using nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk, has now visited the Houses of Parliament for the second year in a row. The aim of these visits is simple: to engage MPs in conversations about how working with nature can complement traditional flood alleviation methods – while also delivering wider environmental and social benefits.
Reiterating our five key messages to MPs
This summer, we returned to parliament to meet newly elected MPs, many of whom had experience with flooding in their constituencies. We were encouraged by their impressive level of knowledge and interest in natural flood management (NFM), which led to meaningful discussions with MPs and ministers around our five key messages:
- Rebalancing of the funding formula for nature-based solutions (NBS). It is a cost-effective approach that provides value for money. Currently the funding model is balanced in favour of hard-engineering solutions, with only a tiny proportion of funding going to NFM and NBS.
- All planning developments should include sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to manage water at a local level. This is already adopted and implemented in Wales but not elsewhere in the UK.
- Education is crucial for long-term understanding and success. NFM and SuDS should be included in the primary school curriculum.
- Green skills and expertise are necessary for the development of NFM. These roles and professions should be prioritised if we are going to build upon the knowledge and benefits of NFM. All local authorities should have NFM officers to manage projects on a local level.
- NFM and SuDS have a positive impact on combined sewer outfalls. In addition, the automatic right to combined sewer connection should be removed.
Growing interest in Westminster
Our first visit to parliament was in early 2024, just before the general election. After Labour formed the new government in 2024, we received strong interest from MPs including Emma Hardy MP, floods minister at Defra; Toby Perkins MP, chair of the environmental select committee; Josh Fenton-Glynn, MP for Calder Valley; and Kate Dearden, MP for Halifax. Their visits to Slow The Flow and its sister organisation, West Wolds Slow The Flow are detailed in our blog posts Influencing the Legislators at Hardcastle Crags and Emma Hardy MP Visits Drewton Beck.
There has been real progress since then. The government has launched a consultation on the flood and coastal erosion funding formula, recognising the need for innovative, natural approaches to complement hard-engineered schemes such as the £40mn project to reduce flood risk in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire. Additionally, Defra has published national standards for SuDS for new developments.
Progress, but not yet enough
These are positive steps forward – but they are not enough. We share the concerns expressed by the Rivers Trust, CIWEM (the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management), and the Landscape Institute that, without the enactment of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, these standards remain only advisory, not enforceable.
Our interpretation of the standards includes that developers should not be allowed to simply connect rainwater runoff into sewer systems, as this only increases the risk of flooding and pollution. An enforced Schedule 3 would deliver immediate, local benefits, especially for flood risk in new housing developments.
We are grateful to our local MPs for their continued support in helping us spread our five key messages to a wider audience and we welcome further discussions with any MPs who could not attend. We remain committed to championing the changes needed to make NFM and SuDS part of mainstream flood risk management.
Looking forward to our tenth year
Our work continues into 2025 as we head towards our 10th anniversary at Slow The Flow in 2026. The success we have enjoyed comes from the commitment of our board of trustees, and the experience and dedication of our trustees, our volunteers, and our partners around the UK.
We will continue to press the legislators and our partners to improve flood defences. As the world becomes warmer, our task is becoming even more important in order to manage the risk of flooding in our towns and villages.
Nature can and should play a hugely important role in this, rather than just relying on hard engineering. The funding consultation will play an influential part in this, and we look forward to the results of this consultation with interest.
We will continue to educate, lobby and influence our communities around the UK and our legislators to make sure natural methods of reducing flood risk are always considered, promoted and utilised.
