The Scottish Government is set to establish a national flood advisory service aimed at improving the country’s preparedness for flooding and ensuring the widespread implementation of best practices. This initiative, announced on December 18, 2024, is part of a broader national flood resilience strategy designed to create more flood-resistant communities and environments.
Objectives of the National Flood Advisory Service
The new service will offer crucial support and guidance on building flood resilience across Scotland, providing expertise to delivery partners and local communities. One of the key functions will be to facilitate the governance framework necessary for advancing high-priority flood mitigation actions, including flood protection schemes.
The advisory service is a cornerstone of Scotland’s first-ever national flood resilience strategy, which emphasizes a long-term, strategic approach to flood management. Instead of focusing solely on fixing individual flooding incidents, the strategy aims to build flood-resilient areas that can withstand future risks posed by climate change.
Key Actions of the National Flood Resilience Strategy
Alongside the establishment of the national flood advisory service, the strategy outlines several other significant actions:
- Urban and Rural Adaptation: Efforts to improve understanding and strategies for adapting urban and rural landscapes to reduce flood risks.
- Smaller Flood Protection Schemes: Support for a wider variety of flood protection efforts, including smaller-scale schemes and property-level flood resilience measures.
- Data and Awareness: Enhancing the use of data to inform decision-making and raise public awareness of the current and future risks of flooding.
Financial Investment
To support the strategy, the Scottish Government has allocated additional funding, including:
- £15 Million for the draft 2025-2026 budget, which will be directed towards delivering the national flood resilience strategy and further flood-related initiatives.
- £42 Million Annually for local authorities to support flood resilience projects across Scotland.
- £150 Million Over the Parliament Term to deliver improved flood resilience across the country.
The Impact of Climate Change on Flooding
Gillian Martin, the Scottish Government’s acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy, emphasized the role of climate change in exacerbating flooding risks. She noted the severity of recent events, such as the October 2023 floods during Storm Babet, which demonstrated how global warming is influencing weather patterns in Scotland. Projections estimate that by 2080, the number of properties at risk of flooding could increase from 284,000 to nearly 400,000.
The national flood resilience strategy aims to mitigate these impacts by focusing on both reducing flood exposure and minimizing the effects of flooding when it does occur. The goal is to create sustainable, flood-resilient communities and reduce the burden on households and businesses in flood-prone areas.
