Ein cyf/Our ref: NICW/25/Flooding01
Huw Irranca Davies MS
Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
Welsh Government
Re: Welsh Government's response to our flooding recommendations
On behalf of the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales, I would like to thank you for the valuable meeting we held on 19 May to discuss flooding and resilience in Wales, and for your subsequent letter detailing the ongoing work on biodiversity and the way in which Nature plays a key role in managing water in Wales.We were encouraged by your clear commitment and urgency in tackling the growing risks posed by flooding, an urgency that has been echoed in recent reports by the Climate Change Committee, Audit Wales, and the Flooding and Coastal Erosion Committee. Recognising the scale of the challenge is the first step, and we acknowledge the challenges brought about by the financial and structural constraints currently facing the Welsh Government.
We also welcome the breadth of work already underway within Welsh Government that aligns closely with the recommendations we have set out, particularly around long-term planning, community engagement, and the use of nature-based solutions. It is clear that there is growing policy convergence and shared ambition. We look forward to working with your colleagues to progress each of our 17 recommendations, to try to identify actions that can result in 'quick wins' without compromising existing activity.
We are particularly keen to see early momentum and tangible progress in three key areas:
* Accelerating a whole-catchment approach to flood and water management that integrates infrastructure, land use, and nature;
* Scaling up nature-based solutions, supported by consistent funding models that reflect their long-term social, environmental, and economic value;
* Developing a Wales Flood Forum that is empowered, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of communities across Wales.
We believe that early engagement in these areas will not only drive better outcomes for people and the environment, but also help reduce the long-term costs of flood recovery and adaptation.
Many of the interventions we advocate represent prudent investment; minimising future liabilities for infrastructure damage, disruption to services, and community displacement. Finally, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the development of a cross-party consensus on flooding policy. This is essential if Wales is to adopt a long-term approach that transcends electoral cycles and offers communities the clarity and stability they deserve. NICW is ready to play a convening and constructive role in that process. We look forward to continued collaboration with you and your team.
Yours sincerely,
Dr David Clubb, Cadeirydd/Chair
Eluned Parrott, Commissioner
Dr Eurgain Powell, Commissioner