Consultation closed on 31/10/2006
In August 2006 The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) produced a consultation document under the banner of "Making Space for Water". This includes the intention to give the Environment Agency (EA) a new strategic overview role for all flood and coastal erosion risk management in England.
Primarily DEFRA are proposing that the Environment Agency (EA) would become the Lead Authority for sea flooding and coastal erosion risk management. It is proposed that they will:
Assess all risk, prioritise risk management programmes, allocate and manage Government funding for work programmes
Ensure the effective procurement and delivery of all capital works (with local authorities continuing to propose and deliver work on the ground, where they have the skill and expertise to do so, under the EA's strategic direction)
Be responsible for producing all Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs)
Be given powers to undertake coast protection work
Further Information
The document is available on the DEFRA website. The consultation period ran until 31st October 2006.
