What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact on Wales of the findings by Bristol University regarding future flood risk in Great Britain?
The Welsh Government welcomes studies and research which promote public debate about flood risk hazards and climate change. Improving our understanding of flood risk through new evidence can help shape government policy, help to prioritise action and investment and inform the approach to delivery.
Flood mapping in Wales is done to a high degree of technical accuracy, and in accordance with a specification produced by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and available online: Natural Resources Wales / Developing hydraulic models for flood risk.
Our National Flood Map was launched in 2020 as part of the Flood Risk Assessment Wales (FRAW) projects and is regularly updated as new data becomes available. FRAW mapping is more detailed as it uses more granular data than that used in the Bristol University study. FRAW also includes more detailed local models and information about risk mitigation provided by flood defences.
We are committed to transparency and open data, and we make our FRAW mapped outputs open and available to the public. The FRAW Map is published at the following location: Natural Resources Wales / Check your flood risk on a map (Flood Risk Assessment Wales Map). All of the technical reports & information sheets for FRAW are available on request.
Climate change is fully incorporated into the way we plan for and mitigate flood risk. The Welsh Government publishes guidance for Risk Management Authorities on how to consider the various impacts of climate change when developing all new Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management schemes or strategies. The guidance is located at: Flood and coastal erosion risk management: adapting to climate change | GOV.WALES.
Our updated Flood Map for Planning also includes allowances for the increased risk of flooding associated with climate change. The new map, combined with our updated Technical Advice Note 15: Development, flooding and coastal erosion, will be crucial to reducing the future risk of flooding to communities and key infrastructure.