Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 December 2025.

The Colorado beetle, a major threat to potato crops, was found in Kent in 2023.

A major potato pest has been eradicated from the UK, the government has outlined today (Thursday 11 December 2025), following extensive operational investigative work and surveillance.

The Colorado beetle was discovered in Kent in July 2023 following laboratory diagnosis of samples, with one finding later that year. The beetle can completely strip the leaves from potato plants and several other crops, including tomatoes, aubergines and peppers, and can have a significant economic impact if left uncontrolled.

No further beetles have been found in the space of two years, in a boost for farmers, gardeners and allotment holders who grow potatoes. This has meant eradication status has been reached.

Colorado beetle, which does not pose a risk to human health, has previously been detected on imported plant products, such as leafy vegetables, salad leaves and fresh herbs. The beetle is highly distinctive: orange-yellow in colour with 10 characteristic black stripes on its body.

The co-operation and vigilance of farmers, gardeners and allotment holders has played a key part in the eradication campaign along with effective biosecurity measures from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Defra.

Farming Minister Angela Eagle said:

“This is great news for British farmers. We will continue to work with partners and stakeholders to maintain UK biosecurity and protect British crops from future threats.”

Defra Chief Plant Health Officer Professor Nicola Spence said:

“Colorado beetle can pose a significant threat to plants and the wider potato industry, and I’m grateful for the role of farmers, home gardeners and allotment holders in helping us take the action needed to protect our national crops.

“This has been a huge team effort and is good news for the potato industry, but in order to prevent further outbreaks, it is vital the public continue to be vigilant and report suspected sightings to the Animal and Plant Health Agency with a photo and location details.”

Animal and Plant Health Agency Chief Executive Richard Lewis said:

“This is a significant achievement for APHA operational teams, working with Defra, the potato industry, farmers, home gardeners and allotment holders.”

Surveillance activities included regular inspections of original outbreak fields and selected potato fields in Kent to rule out incursions resulting from blow over from mainland Europe. Periodic outbreaks of the pest between 1901 and the 1970s also saw it swiftly eradicated due to inspections and public vigilance.

Additional information:

• If you find what you suspect to be a Colorado beetle in England and Wales, please do not let it go – capture it in a secure container and report any suspected sightings to APHA as soon as possible by telephoning 0300 1000 313 or by emailing the planthealth.info@apha.gov.uk mailbox. All sightings should include a photograph and location details.
• You can see what the beetle looks like via Defra’s plant pest factsheet.
• For Scotland, contact the Scottish Government’s Horticulture and Marketing Unit: For agricultural crops contact the local RPID officer: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/farmingrural/Agriculture/AOcontacts/contacts. For non-agricultural crops, email: hort.marketing@gov.scot 
• For Northern Ireland, contact the DAERA Plant Health Inspection Branch: Tel: 0300 200 7847 Email: planthealth@daera-ni.gov.uk Website: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/topics/plant-and-tree-health
  The Colorado beetle does not represent a risk to human health.
• The Colorado beetle plant pest factsheet provides more information about the beetle’s life cycle and provides information on how to differentiate it from some of our native beetle species.
• Public awareness campaigns have included APHA’s Gold award-winning Colorado beetle exhibit at the 2025 RHS Chelsea Flower Show, which was visited by King Charles III.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 December 2025.

Consultation launched to review contract practices in the combinable crops sector, building on Fair Dealing reforms in dairy, pigs, eggs and fresh produce sectors.

Arable farmers are set for stronger protections under a new government review into unfair practices in the combinable crops supply chain, Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle has announced.

The work of the sector, covering crops such as wheat, barley, oilseeds and pulses, underpins domestic food, feed and fuel production. Improving fairness will help ensure resilient domestic production and support the long-term health of the food system.

An eight-week consultation, launched today (Wednesday 10 December), will seek views on issues such as clarity of standards, sampling and testing procedures, supply volumes, data sharing and dispute resolution, to inform proposals for clearer contracts and fairer treatment for producers.

The consultation looks to ensure farmers always receive a transparent price for their produce and understand which factors determine it. Fairness within the agricultural supply chain is a key priority for the government and integral to food security.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said:

Farmers should have confidence that the contracts they sign are fair and transparent and work as they should.

Our strong food system needs to be built on solid foundations with farmers treated fairly. This consultation is a chance for growers to tell us where changes are needed in their supply chain.

By improving clarity and ensuring fair and transparent contracts, we’re backing British producers through our Plan for Change, strengthening our food security and supporting a resilient future for the sector.

The action forms part of the government’s New Deal for Farmers and builds on Fair Dealing rules already introduced for dairy and pigs, with work under way for eggs and fresh produce. The government is committed to tackling contractual unfairness wherever it exists through its Fair Dealings Regulations, which are enforced by its Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator.

The launch of the consultation also complements wider work to protect farmers in trade deals, strengthen supply chain resilience, lower costs for consumers, and deliver a thriving, innovative food sector through the Good Food Cycle.

Following recent reforms and continued collaboration with devolved governments, this latest step will help build a more transparent and competitive supply chain that benefits farmers and the public alike.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 December 2025.

New plan sets course for cleaner rivers and air, as well as more nature and wildlife in England.

• Targeted and measured delivery plans to set out progress towards environmental targets while supporting economic growth
• £500 million to supercharge landscape-scale nature recovery across England

People across England will benefit from cleaner air and water under a strengthened plan to restore the natural environment, backed by hundreds of millions of pounds to revive iconic landscapes.  

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), published today (Monday 1 December), sets out an ambitious five-year roadmap to tackle the nature and climate crisis, improve public health, and support sustainable growth.  

Communities will see improved air quality thanks to action on fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) – a harmful pollutant linked to asthma, lung disease, and heart conditions. Under a new interim target, population exposure to PM2.5 will be cut by 30% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels – supporting better quality of life and reducing pressure on the NHS.  

Nature will be boosted with a quarter of a million hectares of wildlife-rich habitats created or restored by 2030 – an area larger than Greater London. This is 110,000 hectares of habitat more than had been previously committed, supporting our aims for a healthier environment, which is essential to growth.    

A new target to halve the presence of damaging invasive species compared to 25 years ago will protect native wildlife and farmers’ livelihoods. This will help prevent new invasive species from becoming established and manage existing invaders like the American Signal Crayfish and Japanese Knotweed.   

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said:    

Our environment faces real challenges, with pollution in our waterways, air quality that’s too low in many areas, and treasured species in decline.   

This plan marks a step change in restoring nature. Our ambitious targets are backed by real action to cut harmful air pollutants, revive habitats and protect the environment for generations to come. 

The plan is being supported with new headline commitments and funding announced today. This includes:  

• £500 million for Landscape Recovery projects, bringing together farmers and land managers to restore nature at scale, creating wildlife-rich environments, reducing flood risk and improving water quality while unlocking economic opportunities through green jobs and nature-based solutions that support rural prosperity  
• £85 million to improve and restore peatlands, reducing flooding in communities, improving water quality and supporting public health through cleaner air and enhanced access to green spaces for physical and mental wellbeing. This comes alongside £3 million to improve access to nature in Public Forest Estates through facilities including accessible bike trails and all-terrain mobility equipment. 
• First-ever plan to reduce risks from ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS) to health and the environment, with a review of sewage sludge spreading rules to ensure sustainable practices  
• New Trees Action Plan and measures to reduce damaging methane emissions, particularly from agriculture, alongside exploring new domestic combustion measures to drive climate progress  
• Environment Act target delivery plans published for the first time, providing clear progress tracking and fixing the lack of rigour in the previous plan  

The publication follows wider government action on nature and biodiversity, including the reintroduction of beavers to the wild, a commitment to end bee-killing pesticides, and the launch of two National Forests.  

Government will now work with individuals, communities, farmers, businesses and local authorities to deliver the plan, driving economic growth through green jobs and innovation while ensuring future generations benefit from a greener and more prosperous country.  

Landscape Recovery is one of the government nature-friendly farming schemes, alongside Countryside Stewardship and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), which also deliver positive outcomes for nature and sustainable food production. Over half of farmland is already in one of these schemes, with an improved SFI offer opening next year. 

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 25 November 2025.

392 bathing waters in England are rated ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’, demonstrating the impact of designation, regulation and partnership working.

The Environment Agency has today (25 November) published the 2025 bathing water classifications for 449 designated bathing sites in England. 87% meet standards for ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ classification, an improvement on 2024, meaning swimmers can benefit from a higher number of better-quality bathing sites than last year. 

Overall, 417 bathing waters (93%), were rated ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’ or ‘Sufficient’, representing a slight rise on 2024. 297 sites achieved an ‘Excellent’ rating this year, compared to 289 in 2024, while 32 sites were classified as ‘Poor’, a decrease on 37 last year.  

Bathing water quality in England has improved dramatically since the 1990s, following decades of regulation, investment and partnership work. 

These results are based on the last four years of testing by the Environment Agency which monitors for indicators of pollution known to be associated with risks to bathers’ health, specifically E. coli and intestinal enterococci. 

Each bathing water has its own pressures, and many factors can influence bathing water quality including storm overflows, agricultural runoff, birds, dogs and other local issues. 

Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:

Bathing water quality in England has improved significantly over recent decades, and this year’s results show the continued impact of strong regulation, investment and partnership working. 

But we know there is more to do, and the new bathing water reforms will strengthen the way these much-loved places are managed.  

The Environment Agency is working closely with Defra to ensure these changes are implemented effectively whilst our teams continue to work with water companies, farmers, councils and local groups to tackle all sources of pollution and support continued progress across sites.

The Environment Agency works closely with local partners at priority sites to tackle all factors influencing water quality. Goring beach in West Sussex is a good example of this partnership working – following EA sampling and information sharing, awareness campaigns by Worthing Borough Council, and Southern Water fixing misconnections, the bathing water has achieved a ‘Good’ classification this year. 

Alongside the annual classifications, the government’s new Bathing Water Regulation reforms came into force on 21 November. These reforms are designed to change the ‘one size fits all’ approach and more closely reflect how people use our beaches, lakes and rivers. 

The reforms include: 

• We’ve ended the old rule that automatically removed a bathing water’s status after five years of ‘Poor’ ratings in a row. Now, when a site is struggling regulators will look at the issues affecting the water quality and, where possible, work towards finding realistic options for improving it.  
• We’re bringing in more flexibility to monitoring dates – so that testing can be adapted to suit individual sites and better match when people actually use the water. 
• A third reform, which will look at new criteria for bathing waters, will come into force in May 2026 to allow guidance to be fully developed. 

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: 

Our bathing waters are at the heart of so many communities, and these reforms will help people experience the benefits of our beautiful waters and connect with nature.  

By ending automatic de-designation and bringing in more flexibility to when waters are monitored, we’re creating a system that reflects how people actually use their local rivers, lakes and beaches. 

These changes sit alongside our wider action to clean up our waterways so communities across the country can enjoy the places they care about most. 

Defra and the Environment Agency are encouraging people to use Swimfo, the EA’s online service providing the latest information on bathing water quality and incidents, helping the public make informed decisions about where and when to swim. 

Notes to Editors 

• To protect our waterways and the health of swimmers, the Environment Agency monitors the water quality at more than 400 designated beaches and inland waters across England. We do this through a robust sampling programme – as set out in law in the Bathing Water Regulations. 
• The Environment Agency classifies England’s bathing waters each year as ‘Excellent’, ‘Good’, ‘Sufficient’ or ‘Poor’, based on four years of monitoring data. 
• Monitoring runs throughout the bathing season and samples are assessed for Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci for classification purposes. 
• The 2025 classifications cover 449 designated bathing waters in England. 
• The Environment Agency is working with local partners to take targeted action to improve water quality at bathing waters classified as ‘Poor’. 
• Bathing water designations are made by the Secretary of State for Defra following local applications and public consultation. 
• The Bathing Water Regulations reforms came into force on 21 November, ending automatic de-designation after five consecutive Poor classifications and introducing flexibility for site-specific bathing seasons, which means that sites can apply to change the boundaries of their bathing season. 
• De-designation is now a case-by-case ministerial decision. 
• A further reform updating designation criteria will come into force in May 2026 after guidance is finalised. 
• Members of the public can access up-to-date bathing water information, including the 2025 classifications, via the Environment Agency’s Swimfo service.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 24 November 2025.

UK accelerates global leadership on nature at COP30.

• First company – a British startup – contributes to the Cali Fund paving the way for others to do the same and mobilise private sector finance for nature at scale 
• Minister for Nature works with global partners to mobilise finance for nature, promote sustainable farming for food security and takes action to protect our oceans. 

The UK Government has taken bold and ambitious action to protect and restore nature at the COP30 climate meeting.  

UK representatives have championed the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems around the world, and the essential work we’re doing back home to restore our forests, landscapes and seas for the British people as part of the Plan for Change.  

During COP30, the first payment to the Cali Fund – by a British business – was announced. This marks a major milestone since its launch earlier this year. The Fund enables companies – such as pharmaceutical and biotech companies – to share profits with Indigenous Peoples and local communities who protect the nature that provides genetic resources for their products.

The UK is working closely with the private sector and other governments to support effective implementation of the Fund, including through the Friends of the Cali Fund, and this first contribution is a real milestone in these efforts.  

UK-based startup Tierra Viva AI proudly kickstarts contributions to the Cali Fund, paving the way for others to follow and contribute to the Fund at scale.  

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:  

British families are already feeling the impact of climate change – from flooding that destroys homes to heatwaves that put vulnerable people at risk.  

We cannot tackle nature loss and climate change in isolation; in Brazil we have built the global coalition for ambitious action on nature which is the only way to protect our home for future generations

Ruth Davis, Special Representative for Nature said:  

The UK has demonstrated technical expertise and worked alongside our global partners to put nature on the agenda, but there is more to do, and we must now amplify the momentum for action at scale on climate and nature.

This isn’t just about doing the right thing for the planet. Building a stronger and fairer global economy will unlock enormous economic opportunities – we know that investing in nature creates jobs and accelerates growth with new opportunities attracting millions in investment.

At COP30, the UK government has made further commitments to halt and reverse nature loss This includes: 

• Launching the UK-Brazil Fertilisers Declaration – a global push to cut emissions from fertiliser production and use. It’s about improving food security and protecting jobs and growth by supporting farmers’ resilience and boosting agricultural productivity. 
• Joining the Saltmarsh Breakthrough – protecting these vital coastal ecosystems which anchor key marine food chains, shield communities from floods and lock away more carbon than most forests.
• Becoming a Food Waste Breakthrough Country Champion – driving the global goal to halve food waste by 2030 and cutting methane emissions by keeping food waste out of landfills.   
• Nature actions – COP30 showcased the UK’s role in advancing the global ‘nature actions agenda’. The summit saw the Independent Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits launch its Nature Markets Policy Forum with the UK, France and Indonesia joining as founding members, helping to unlock innovation and investment in high integrity nature credit markets.
• Congo call to action – The UK also furthered its long-standing partnership with the Congo Basin region, joining a Call to Action, to ensure the world recognises the importance of Congo’s forests and funds solutions developed by Congolese institutions and communities.

The UK’s leadership at COP30 echoes our commitments to support the environment at home.  

We announced that the second National Forest will be in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, where millions of trees will be planted as part of a wider commitment to allocate over £1 billion this parliament to tree planting. This will support nature recovery, green jobs, and net zero goals.  

Further detail on this government’s plan to restore the environment will be set out in the upcoming Environmental Improvement Plan, which will outline the next phase of the UK’s nature recovery ambitions.    

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 November 2025.

Water skills group, co-chaired with Energy & Utility Skills, holds inaugural meeting today.

The water industry is set to benefit from a new group created by government to ensure it has the skilled workforce it needs to deliver record levels of investment and reform.  

The Water Skills Strategic Group held its first meeting today, 13th November 2025, bringing together senior leaders in government from and across the water sector and its supply chain. 

The group’s focus will be the delivery of the £104 billion investment – the largest since privatisation – which will create more than 30,000 new jobs, support the building of 1.5 million new homes, and help restore the nation’s rivers, lakes and seas. 

Convened by Defra and co-chaired with sector skills body Energy & Utility Skills, the group will drive coordinated action to grow a future-ready, highly skilled workforce across England and Wales, which will form the future of the water sector.  

The Group will ensure the water sector has the skills needed to deliver huge infrastructure projects including nine new reservoirs, nine large-scale water transfer schemes and reducing leaks from water pipes. This will include roles such as bioresources technicians, hydraulics specialists, engineers, construction workers, and surveyors. 

Meeting quarterly, the group will focus on identifying where skills are needed most across the sector, exploring how to improve its attractiveness to new, diverse talent and ensuring the right training and qualifications are in place. A framework for measuring progress will ensure the group is achieving its objectives, creating impact and robustly planning to support the implementation of the government’s water reform. 

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: 

We’re driving the biggest overhaul of the water sector since privatisation – making sure record investment goes where it’s needed most to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. 

That means opening up jobs and opportunities across England and Wales so we have skilled people on the ground, in every community, delivering the change we all want to see.   

This partnership between government, industry and training bodies will help build the workforce we need for the future of our water sector.

Paul Cox, Group Chief Executive, Energy & Utility Skills, said:   

The water sector stands at a pivotal moment with a shared responsibility to deliver for customers and the environment. Skills are central to that ambition. The scale of AMP8 investment will bring lasting benefits for communities, families and individuals across the United Kingdom.  

By grounding decisions in evidence, attracting new talent, developing expertise and retaining experience, the sector can build a skilled and resilient workforce ready to meet future challenges. Through collaboration and pace, the sector can turn ambition into delivery and secure clean, reliable and sustainable water for generations to come.

This builds on commitments made at the Water UK Skills Summit earlier this year where government and industry leaders signed the Water Skills Pledge, affirming the government’s commitment to ensuring the water sector has the skills and workforce it needs to succeed. 

Defra also established the Water Delivery Taskforce, which brings together Government, regulators, and water industry representatives, to ensure water companies complete their planned investments on time and on budget – providing value for money for customers.  

The government will fast-track key recommendations from the Independent Water Commission and outline further actions in a White Paper later this year, paving the way for new legislation to attract investment, speed up infrastructure delivery, and restore public confidence in the sector.  

Notes to editors: 

• The Water Skills Strategic Group is jointly chaired by Defra and Energy & Utility Skills. 
• Membership includes senior representatives from Defra, Energy & Utility Skills, Water UK, British Water, the Institute of Water, CIWEM, the Future Water Association, major water companies across England and Wales, supply chain contractors and key government departments. 
• The group will run until March 2030, aligning with Asset Management Period 8.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 October 2025.

The Review, led by Professor Peter Bonfield, brought together leaders from across various sectors who all have an important role in improving the PFR uptake.

Strong leadership from government, housebuilders, insurers and flood action groups will be vital in ensuring homes across England are better protected from the impacts of flooding, according to an independent review published today (Thursday 16 October).  

In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of property flood resilience measures, which help reduce the risk of damage to individual properties, speed up recovery and help people go back home after flooding. However, uptake remains still too low.  

With the latest Environment Agency data showing more than 6.3 million properties in England are now at risk of flooding, it’s vital that more homeowners explore these measures to avoid facing higher insurance premiums or reduced market value for their property.  

Commissioned by the Environment Agency, Professor Peter Bonfield has published an independent review setting out how the nation can accelerate practical and affordable flood resilience measures for homes, while offering a clear roadmap for boosting resilience and helping people recover faster from floods. 

Property flood resilience measures – such as flood doors, non-return valves and air bricks – can help to keep as much water out of a property as possible. They also include measures like tiled floors and raised electrics, so if water does enter, it minimises damage and helps people get back on their feet quicker. The use of Sustainable Drainage Systems at property level, for example permeable paving and rain gardens, can also reduce the risk of surface water flooding. 

The FloodReady Review builds on progress made since the 2016 PFR Review and sets out a series of clear, practical recommendations to increase the use of resilience measures in homes and businesses at risk of flooding.  

Recommendations include investment being targeted to areas where PFR measures offer the greatest benefit and best value for money. It also calls on landlords to help protect their tenants by embedding PFR into housing improvements.  

It also advocates for greater collaboration between local authorities and water companies to align investment plans and deliver resilience more effectively. These recommendations represent a forward-looking approach to tackling the growing challenge of flooding in a changing climate.   

Professor Peter Bonfield, lead for the Flood Ready Review, said: 

Flooding presents a significant and growing risk to people, properties and businesses. I was pleased to be invited to lead this independent review – FloodReady – of how we can better mainstream property flood resilience. 

FloodReady sets out how we can make flood resilience a normal part of how homes and businesses are built, maintained and repaired. It shows the power of partnership working between government, insurers, local authorities, and communities. 

It is really heartening that the actions set out in FloodReady will now progress for delivery through the multi-sectoral Leadership Group, Property Flood Resilience Roundtable and others to make the actions a reality to help protect people and property.

Julie Foley, Director of Flood Risk Strategy at the Environment Agency, said: 

We have been actively working with suppliers and partners to mainstream property flood resilience as one of the ways of tackling the rising threat of flooding.  

Through our new flood investment programme, we will be targeting property flood resilience measures where they are the most effective way of managing flood risk and offer the best value for money.  

We are also committed to ensuring that the suppliers and installers we work with follow industry best practice so that we can build trust with communities and ensure that property flood resilience can play in helping people recover more quickly after flooding.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: 

As we experience the effects of climate change it has never been more important to mainstream Property Flood Resilience measures. 

Today’s FloodReady review marks a vital step change in how people better protect their homes and recover faster after flooding. 

I look forward to working across government and with partners to build resilience and safeguard communities as we face a future of increasing flood risk.

The Review is the result of close collaboration between the Environment Agency, Defra, Flood Re, the insurance sector, housing associations, builders, local authorities, and community groups. This joint effort aims to align flood resilience actions with the government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy and wider climate adaptation goals. 

The recommendations will be taken forward by a core leadership group, who will work closely with stakeholders to prioritise and implement key actions.

ABI Director General Hannah Gurga said:  

With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of flooding, we strongly support the FloodReady Review’s focus on coordinated action to protect homes and communities. The review shows the impact of the whole supply chain working together to improve our resilience to flooding, and insurers are committed to increasing the uptake of Build Back Better and Property Flood Resilience. This is a vital opportunity to make sure flood resilience is built into our homes, with clear standards, accessible funding, and strong collaboration across sectors.

Charles Roe, Director of Mortgages at UK Finance, said:  

UK Finance welcomes the FloodReady Review and the recommendations it sets out for tackling one of the most visible climate-related challenges facing households and communities. Flood risk is not just an environmental issue, it has direct implications for mortgage lending, insurance, and property valuation. The mortgage sector is committed to working with government, insurers, and homeowners to ensure investment in property flood resilience initiatives. This Review is an important step towards building a system where property flood risk is better understood, managed, and mitigated.

Paul Shaffer, Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) said:

CIWEM has been working with many of the contributors to the FloodReady review to build a pathway for PFR professionals to be trained, assessed and professionally registered in order to quality assure and demonstrate their competence. We believe that FloodReady’s recommendations to focus on skill development, sector consolidation and alignment is vital to increasing the resilience and confidence of communities at risk of flooding. We look forward to working with government and other FloodReady partners to provide the necessary consistency and confidence in PFR delivery. 

Brett Amphlett, Policy & Public Affairs: The Builders Merchants’ Federation, said: 

The misery that flooding causes is inevitably local – and therefore the response must be local – from flood risk managers, builders’ merchants and others. Local merchants can provide what’s needed for immediate relief – followed by pumps, dryers, dehumidifiers and other materials & products in the resulting clear-up. The Builders Merchants’ Federation supports this Review and is promoting it to builders’ merchants and civils & drainage specialists in our supply chain – especially in districts prone to flooding.

Alistair Smyth, Director of Policy and Research, National Housing Federation, said:

We welcome the publication of the FloodReady action plan. Improving the resilience of homes to flood risk and reducing the potential impact of flooding on people’s lives will become even more urgent in the years and decades to come. That is why the report’s recommendations on the action needed and the shared responsibilities of landlords and other parties is of vital importance and in time should be adopted right across our sector.

Duncan King, Senior Technical Manager, Construction Products Association, said:

FloodReady highlights the necessity for a whole industry involvement to effectively negate the misery caused by properties being flooded. While standards can be written covering the production of effective flood resilient products, standards of workmanship for those undertaking retrofitting work need to be officially recognised and supported by warranties backed by the insurance industry, perhaps even the introduction of annual inspections of installed measures by local authorities.

Graham Watts OBE, Chief Executive, Construction Industry Council, said:  

It has been an eye-opening pleasure to serve on Peter Bonfield’s leadership group for this review, especially as someone who lives in a flood-threatened community. The recommendations in the FloodReady report are wide-ranging and significant. The board of the Construction Industry Council has already pledged support for helping to implement those that are directed at the construction industry.