By Professor John Robertson OBA
In the Independent and others, today, a warning that 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are at serious risk of flooding.
According to Sepa, the figure in Scotland is 284 000:
Crudely, 22.2 times as many, but with 10 times the population, all things being equal, you might expect there to be around 2.8 million homes and businesses at risk of flooding in England but it’s 6.3, on the way to three times as many.
Why might this be?
As far back as 2006, researchers at the English College of Estates Management, whose patron was HRH Prince of Wales, made a number of highly encouraging comments about the achievements of the Labour-run Scottish Executive, SEPA and the Local Authorities:
As far as flood protection is concerned, unlike in England, the 1 in 200-year standard of protection is ‘universal’ for all new buildings, with a 1,000-year standard for such vulnerable uses as old people’s homes, schools, hospitals etc. In addition, construction in flood hazard areas has almost completely ended. Crichton (2003: 26) estimates that “the active flood management programme currently in progress will result in almost all high-risk properties being protected against the 200-year flood within the next three years, taking climate change into account.” It is also interesting to note that the Scottish Executive grants for flood defences have never been refused on the grounds of budget restraints and there is no rationing of flood defence spending.
It is clear, however, that the more stringent building standards which are applied in Scotland ensure that severe storms result in much less property damage than comparable events in England. Also, the level of flood protection and the commitment of funding to achieve flood protection are higher in Scotland than in England.’
College of Estates Management at: https://www.cem.ac.uk/media/28193/flooding.pdf
More recently, with SNP leadership, the favourable comparison still seems to hold. Published research from the esteemed Joseph Rowntree Foundation, in 2012, seems to support my first impressions quite strongly:
‘Where English planning regulations permit building in flood plains where there is no alternative, Scottish Planning Policy does not permit building in areas in which ‘the flood risk exceeds the 200-year return period’, i.e. where in any year there is a greater than 0.5 per cent probability of flooding. Scotland has stronger regulations governing the capacity of sewage and drainage systems for new building. It also has stronger minimum standards for flood defences. Building regulations ensuring flood resilience in the housing stock are more developed. Scottish planners, through Flood Liaison and Advice Groups, are engaged with local communities, the emergency services, insurers and other interested parties in drawing up flood plans. The differences in regulatory regimes between England and Scotland are reflected in the number of households that are at risk of flooding, and the resilience of communities in responding to those risks.’
The level of investment will be one factor in these differences. In recent years, spending in England and Wales has declined seriously after significant increases under Labour in 1997 to 2010, as revealed in a UK Parliament Briefing Paper from 2015:
‘Central Government spending on flood defence in 2010-11 was cut soon after the Coalition Government was formed. Spending was reduced in one year by £30 million or 5%. In the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review (2011-12 to 2014-15), a total of £2.17 billion in central government funding was provided for flood and coastal defence. This represented “a six percent fall in central government funding”, The Committee on Climate Change calculated that this represented a real term cut of around 20% compared to the previous spending period.’
In sharp contrast, for Scotland, we see in a Scottish Parliament Committee Paper for 2014-2015, evidence of increasing investment:
‘With regard to flood protection and alleviation, the Committee welcomes the cash terms increases in the funding available to SEPA, and to the Natural Assets and Flooding budget, both of which sit in the RAE portfolio. The Committee believes that, due to climate change, severe weather events will become increasingly likely in Scotland in years to come, and it is therefore essential that flood forecasting and warning systems be as accurate and robust as possible. The Committee welcomes the increased funding for flood forecasting and warning in the RAE portfolio and recommends that the Scottish Government continue to ensure sufficient funding is available to improve flood forecasting and warning systems, to ensure greater consistency across the whole of Scotland.’
As for more recent evidence of superiority in the Scottish system, see this at the Scottish government site and little (surprise, surprise) MSM coverage of it at the time:
‘£42 million a year plan over the next decade.
More than 10,000 families are to benefit from a ten year strategy to protect homes in many of Scotland’s most flood-prone communities. The plan is the result of grant funding totalling £420 million and follows an agreement reached between the Scottish Government and COSLA. The cash will be used to deliver 40 new flood protection projects and support local flood risk management plans. More than 130 flood protection studies will be carried out to help find potential solutions for another 26,000 residential properties currently at risk. The announcement came as the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, fulfilled her pledge to return to Newton Stewart following an earlier visit in the aftermath of flooding at Hogmanay.’
So, unlike the UK Government, the Scottish Government has maintained or bettered the investment and the sophistication in flood prevention here. Had I been writing in 2006, the Labour-controlled Scottish Executive would have rightly claimed any credit for performance north of the border. In 2016, the SNP-controlled Scottish Parliament can do the same. Will BBC Scotland allow them to do it? They clearly didn’t in the run-up to General Election in 2016 so I doubt it.
There you have it, my attempt to shore up our defence plans against a flood of BBC bias (See what I did there, again, again?).
Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37306094
http://news.sky.com/story/16312m-flood-defence-plan-an-elastoplast-say-victims-10569571
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Water/Flooding
College of Estates Management at:https://www.cem.ac.uk/media/28193/flooding.pdf
UK Parliament Briefing Paper at: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tGK3kUO-iKEJ:www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/sn05755.pdf+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk
Scottish Parliament Paper at:http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/70875.aspx
Scottish Act on Control of Flood water at:http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/1057/0094052.pdf
WWF Report at: http://nationalfloodforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/floodplanner_web.pdf
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Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Very useful, as always, but an edit needed? £42 million or £420 million? Feel free to delete this comment when/if fixed.
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I remember a presentation, some years ago, the director of the flood prevention service for England Wales made to the Glasgow Philosophical Society.
The geology of England is markedly different from that of Scotland and there is a greater propensity for flooding in England. However, this can be managed effectively, as you have illustrated, by regulations as in Scotland. It also requires continual pumping in places.
However, Tory/LibDem ‘austerity’ meant that such expenditures were cut – there was no profit in it, and, in any case, the places where there would be flooding would be mainly where the hoi polloi lived.
If Labour is going to build the significant number of houses it promises, it is going to have to address the issue. Its talk of ‘tackling planning restrictions’ should raise concerns. Some planning regulations are, indeed, counterproductive, for many people but that is because the regulations were framed by land owners who skewed things to suit themselves : NIMBYism. Provided Labour is selective in which regulations it amends and provided it begins to address land ownership, then it is possible to build more houses while rebuilding flood prevention measures.
That is a charitable interpretation of Starmer’s YIMBY – yes in my back yard – pronouncements.
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No offence Alasdair but did you mean topography ? The variation in geology and thence ground porosity along most all of England’s long winding rivers is massive.
I was reminded by your reference to continuous pumping to the plight of London Underground when the breweries moved shop or shut down in central London, the pumps got bigger and bigger and last I heard were behemoths… Who knew Londoners’ preference for warm ale was so symbiotic, yet they’re now running out of potable water…
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No offence taken, but, I did mean GEOLOGY. After I had written it I paused to ponder whether I meant topography, but I think ‘geology’ is probably the better word.
England had once been connected to the Low Countries before the North Sea formed and some large European rivers, such as the Rhine might have continued across England. With the formation of the North Sea, the drainage pattern for England’s river system changed. If memory serves, I think the director said that some English rivers (The Trent might have been mentioned) tend to drain towards the centre of England where there might have been a coast at one time, and this is one of the factors which necessitates regular pumping.
in addition historic human reclamation activity in places like the Somerset Levels and the Norfolk Broads also required continuous repairing of banks to stop water recolonising the reclaimed land.
For part of this geological time, Scotland was still migrating from the North American Laurentian land mass.
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Wow, thanks for that illuminating explanation Alasdair, I suspect “Scotland was still migrating from the North American Laurentian land mass” would not go down too well with the Faragists let alone El Suito James Cook with a daily bullshit quota to fulfill…
However, I still contend hydraulics are by far England’s greatest danger for the vast majority of it’s populace, the rivers quite bluntly cannot cope with what is being thrown at them so humans co-existing with it have to derive a solution as governments are so immersed in their own myopic games never to notice.
John was perfectly correct in highlighting the differing standards but I fear even Scotland will suffer once the theoretical storms exceed predictions which they most assuredly will until the blow themselves out and us with it.
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Yes, hydraulics are a major way forward. But, of course privatisation of water was supposed to provide much of that by investing and modernising infrastructure.
But, like other things in England, the Rivers Authority is underfunded, understaffed and it’s board is filled with Tory place-people. Scottish Water has done significant work on the River Kelvin near where I live in Glasgow. The major tunnel which passes under Queen’s Park to Shieldhall sewage works has solved a perennial problem of flooding by the White Cart. The closure of industrial premises – steelworks, Caterpillar, Hoover, etc – on the banks of the Clyde upstream of Glasgow – removed buildings from that section of the river bank. This has not been built on and has created space for the river to flood into. In addition, additional works at Carmyle, Dalmarnock and Rutherglen allows for the temporary storage of water at times of high tides, meltwater and strong westerlies. The Forth and Clyde Canal also holds water during high tides. Thus, the level of the Clyde can be controlled to avoid flooding in the city centre.
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Apparently Newton Farm estate near Cambuslang was built on a flood plain and you check this out
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Apparently ? Och dearie me no, you’ll need to do better than that, such as produce a link to the flooding analysis model demonstrating the 1 in 200 to 1 in 1000 year storm impacts.
The Newton Farm Developments would never have been granted planning permission unless they provably complied with the statutory requirements. period.
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Building on the Tay flood plain upstream of Perth was thought to be one of the reasons why the Inches in Perth were flooding fairly frequently around 15/20 years ago.
However, measures were taken to provide houses near the Inches with floodgates and actions taken upstream to reduce the likelihood of flooding. The actions of the growing population of beavers in Perthshire might have contributed to the natural drainage in the Tay’s head waters.
BBC Scotland has always taken a negative stance with regard to beavers and provides a platform for farmers and gamekeepers who see the beavers as ‘vermin’ destroying their livelihood. Of course, it was the creation of countryside estates for ‘sport’ which destroyed the native beavers’ habitats. But BBC Scotland sees ‘sporting estates’ as ‘progress’.
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Hard to believe “BBC Scotland has always taken a negative stance with regard to beavers” but perhaps my few glimpses of presenters on BBC Scotland mixed with american influences caused a “lost in translation” event.
Perth flooding issues are principally tidal in origin broadly similar to the Whitesands in Dumfries, the ‘floodplain’ is more akin to a giant sponge until the tide recedes which then slowly releases. Progressive upstream controls which limit the flood peak are by far the most effective and cost effective solution, ‘NOT ON MY LAND’ culture by far poses the greatest challenge which I hope SG have the courage to legislate against….
I’ve designed many a flood attenuation system none would know was even there, but each is the wee bit which combine with others to shave the top off the storm flow curve which causes the problem downstream, it’s not rocket science.
Nice Beaver on BBC Scotland this evening though…
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You are absolutely correct Bob. Here is the full planning committee report from 2018…..https://southlanarkshire.cmis.uk.com/southlanarkshire/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=jI5ruHqXkAJ8yy8ZvYNUJZieylCm8a%2Ba6u3EY2mDiRW4YjffdrjJYw%3D%3D&rUzwRPf%2BZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3D%3D=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2FLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3D%3D&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&kCx1AnS9%2FpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2BAJvYtyA%3D%3D=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&FgPlIEJYlotS%2BYGoBi5olA%3D%3D=NHdURQburHA%3D&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3D ……..and shortened look at the “flood” clause….”The applicants propose the erection of 287 dwellinghouses with associated landscaping and roads. As required by the masterplan, the development will incorporate the principles of Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) with drainage ponds located to the north of the site close to the River Clyde, within a proposed riverside park. A number of supporting documents including a Design and Access Statement, Habitat Survey, Dust Management report, Flood Risk Assessment and Ground Survey have previously been submitted as part of the Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) consent granted in 2014.”
if you look at the map detail the development appears not to be on the flood plain
JB
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” if you look at the map detail the development appears not to be on the flood plain ” – Quelle surprise, a political agitator, Labour, Tory, Ach-Him or BBC…
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Take yer pick Bob, all of them working together?…It is playground politics/ baby propaganda as usual, they really are not the brightest bunch…..imagine them being in charge of Scotland….terrifying thought…recent polls must be really bothering them the fact that they are scraping the unionist propaganda barrel….I saw another one glancing through “ their” media about an elderly couple not being able to buy a tiramisu before 10 in the morning in Newton Mearns Waitrose because of the SNP “wreckless” licensing laws….can you imagine not being able to buy one’s tiramisu before, 10 o’clock that will just ruin one’s Christmas that will they also couldn’t get their brandy covered Christmas pudding…..the poor souls!!!
JB
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It was a member of my independence group Yes Rutherglen and Cambuslang who told ne about Newton Farm She was obviously misinformed
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