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The first ever statutory guidance setting out Scotland's approach to dealing with flooding and its impacts on homes, businesses and communities is a stage closer.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Roseanna Cunningham has launched a consultation on the guidelines which will ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, local authorities and other organisations, such as Scottish Water, adopt a sustainable and collaborative approach to managing the risk.

The blueprint covers a broad range of topics, setting out how key organisations should work together to tackle the causes and consequences of flooding. It also outlines how these organisations can engage with the public to give them better information about flood risks.

Ms Cunningham said:

"The final version of this guidance will set out for the first time what organisations like SEPA, local authorities and Scottish Water should do to develop a sustainable approach to managing flooding in Scotland. As we saw in Perthshire last weekend they already work very closely together but this guidance puts this on a statutory footing. I would like to hear what the organisations themselves think of this during the next eight weeks.

"This is another example of the progress that we're making in turning The Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act into positive actions. This will help reduce the damage and distress caused by flooding in Scottish communities.

"We have recently invested in a new joint flood forecasting service for Scotland and in the spring a new approach to providing advance flood warnings to the public will go live. Communities across Scotland have also benefited from record levels of investment by local authorities in flood protection schemes. We also continue to support efforts to improve our understanding of more natural approaches to tackling flooding.

"For example, farmers in Aberdeenshire have been finding out today about the steps they can take to manage their land and contribute to reducing flooding in the surrounding area. At the same time, we have been listening to the challenges that farmers and communities face in dealing with this issue.

"All of this is helping with the continued effort to protect Scotland's communities from the devastation and disruption that flooding can bring. We're making sure that these measures are designed to stand the test of time and accommodate future changes in climate."

Lisa Webb, Convenor of the Freshwater Taskforce at Scottish Environment LINK added:

"We warmly welcome today's consultation launch, as clear and effective guidance will be essential to ensure that authorities are fully aware of their duties under the Flood Risk Management Act.

"We look forward to this guidance being a significant step towards the sustainable management of floods across the whole of Scotland.

"We hope that the guidance will help to ensure that natural approaches to flood management are undertaken to safeguard Scotland's people and communities from flooding while bringing great benefits for our environment."

The guidance focuses on delivering the following outcomes:

Public funds invested in actions that protect the most vulnerable and those areas at greatest risk of flooding;

• A landscape with space to store water and slow down the progress of floods;
• Integrated urban drainage that deceases burdens on our sewer systems while also delivering reduced flood risk and an improved water environment;
• A well informed public who understand flood risk and the actions they can take to protect themselves, their property or their businesses;
• Flood management actions that will stand the test of time and accommodate future changes in the climate.

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