Collection: Flood and coastal erosion risk management: current schemes and strategies

Updated: Added Elmer flood scheme.

The Environment Agency considers a wide range of different measures to address the flood and coastal erosion risk to communities and property. The measures needed for each location are considered on a case by case basis. Some of the measures that may be considered include:

  • building flood and coastal defences
  • flood storage reservoirs
  • land management
  • portable defences

The strategies and schemes are grouped by the geographic areas the Environment Agency operates from.

View the map showing the geographic areas of the Environment Agency’s operations.




Statutory guidance: EU ETS Phase III: guidance for installations

Updated: We have amended this guidance to reflect the changes to requirements in the UK Regulations which came into force 27 December 2017. In summary, the key changes are the revised reporting and surrender deadlines relating to the 2018 scheme year.

This guidance will help you meet your obligations under the UK Regulations and applicable European legislation.

It explains:

  • whether you need a permit under the UK Regulations
  • how to make applications (including permit applications)
  • how to comply with the conditions in your permit

It’s divided into 5 sections:

  1. Do I have any obligations under the EU ETS?
  2. How do I apply for a permit?
  3. I have a permit, what do I need to do now?
  4. Things have changed, what should I do?
  5. I’m not happy with a decision, what should I do?



Statutory guidance: Grant in aid forms: flood risk management authorities

Updated: Updated Memorandum relating to capital grants for local authorities and internal drainage boards in England (2016) and Form CPA2: Application for formal approval of coast protection project.

Guidance and forms required for technical and financial approval of flood and coastal erosion risk management projects funded by grant in aid.

The 2011 and 2012 Grant Memorandum’s are no longer provided directly on GOV.UK, these are available on request by contacting The Environment Agency.




Form: Handling and storage plants for animal by-products: application

Updated: Application and Inspection form for approval of a handling/storage plant or storage plant for animal by-products derived products updated.

This form is part of the guide to handling and storing animal by-products.

Plants must be approved before they can receive or store animal by-products (ABPs). This applies to:

  • the handling and storage of raw ABPs
  • the storage of derived ABP products

As part of the approval process your facility will be inspected.

For customers in England, return the completed form to APHA Customer Service Centre Worcester.

For customers in Wales, return the completed form to the APHA office in Caernarfon.

For customers in Scotland, return the completed form to your local APHA Field Service Office.




Guidance: Regulatory Roadmap: Onshore oil and gas exploration in the UK regulation and best practice

Updated: Confirmation that powers related to onshore oil and gas licensing would be devolved to Wales.

These roadmap documents are intended as a first point of reference for anyone seeking to understand the permitting and permissions process for exploratory work in oil and gas development, onshore in the UK. The content is primarily for unconventional oil and gas operations, (specifically shale gas and coal bed methane developments) but many of the processes described will apply equally to conventional operations.

The roadmap provides a basic, indicative overview of the process, highlighting key pieces of legislation and regulation, and identifying required actions and best practices at various stages. Relevant regulatory websites should be referenced for detailed advice.

There is a separate roadmap document for each of the countries within the United Kingdom reflecting the different legislative frameworks that apply and various regulatory bodies that have responsibility for operations in each geographical area.

As recommended by the Smith Commission, it was agreed that powers related to onshore oil and gas licensing would be devolved to Scotland. The Scotland Act 2016 includes provisions for Scottish Ministers to exercise powers previously held by the Secretary of State or the Oil and Gas Authority, in relation to onshore licensing in Scotland. Responsibility for the onshore oil and gas licensing regime in Scotland transferred to Scottish Ministers on 9 February 2018.

For information on the regulation of onshore oil and gas (including shale gas) exploration in Scotland, please contact Johann.MacDougall@gov.scot

The Smith Commission also recommended that powers related to onshore oil and gas licensing would be devolved to Wales. The Wales Act 2017 includes provisions for Welsh Ministers to exercise powers previously held by the Secretary of State or the Oil and Gas Authority, in relation to onshore licensing in Wales. Responsibility for the onshore oil and gas licensing regime in Wales transferred to Welsh Ministers on 1 October 2018.

For information on the regulation of onshore oil and gas (including shale gas) exploration in Wales, please contact Petrolewm.Petroleum@gov.wales.

An overview diagram is presented for each country. On this diagram users can click individual boxes to access more detail. At the end of each section, users can click on a text hyperlink to take them back to the roadmap itself. Depending on the user’s version of Microsoft Word/Adobe Acrobat, all links may simply be clicked or may need the Control (Crtl) key to be held down at the same time.

To use the Power Point version of the roadmap interactively, select full screen mode.