SEPA and Local Authorities Joint Public Consultation

Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans 2022 to 2028 

The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 (FRM Act) introduced a coordinated and partnership approach to how we tackle flood risk in Scotland sustainably.

Flood Risk Management Plans coordinate a range of different efforts to tackle flooding in Scotland. They set the national direction of future flood risk management, helping to target investment and coordinate actions for all responsible authorities.

In 2015, SEPA published a Flood Risk Management Strategies for each of the 14 Local Plan Districts which set out actions in the areas at greatest flood risk and where the benefits of intervention will have the greatest impact. Taken together the 14 Flood Risk Management Strategies have provided a national plan for Scotland.

In 2016, the lead local authority for each Local Plan District produced a Local Flood Risk Management Plan which turned the Flood Risk Management Strategy into a Local Delivery Plan. This plan provides a summary of local activity to manage flood risk.

SEPA's Flood Risk Management Strategies and the Local Flood Risk Management plans are now in the process of being revised using updated information and understanding of flooding from the National Flood Risk Assessment and from SEPAs observed flood events database since 2016. This is a key requirement of the FRM Act which states that SEPA must review and update the Flood Risk Management Strategies every 6 years.

Phase 1 of the consultation process began in December 2020 when draft information for the 14 Flood Risk Management Strategies was published for review via Citizen Space, an online consultation management system.

This included background information for Local Plan Districts and Potentially Vulnerable Areas and identified localised Target Areas.

Online access to Strategies and Plans

On Friday 30th July 2021, phase 2 of the consultation opens and questions will be available for response on the Target Areas identified. The consultation will remain open for 3 months.

The draft information Citizen Space links are listed below (live from 30th July):

• SEPA Phase 2 Consultation: Flood Risk Management Plans and Local Flood Risk Management Plans
  • Flood Risk Management Plan - Forth
  • Flood Risk Management Plan - Forth Estuary 

Visit our offices to review and comment on the consultation

You can also view a paper copy of the information at the Speirs Centre, Alloa and at the Ben Cleuch Centre, Tillicoultry. Please check opening times via our Libraries and Payment Services web page.
 
Printed copies of the consultation can also be provided in other languages or in Braille upon request.