3.126 In England in 2009, around 5.2 million, or one in six, residential and non-residential properties were identified as being in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea and surface water. As demonstrated by the 2007 floods and recognised in the review of Sir Michael Pitt that followed, floods and coastal erosion can have devastating impacts, including loss of life, health effects, property damage and disruption to infrastructure and economic activity.13
3.127 The overall aim of the Government's Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England is to ensure the risk of flooding and coastal erosion is properly managed by using the full range of options in a coordinated way.14 This will help minimise the risks and ensure population growth and economic development is managed sustainably.
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13 Learning lessons from the 2007 floods, Cabinet Office, 2008
14 Understanding risks, empowering communities, building resilience - the national flood and coastal erosion risk management strategy for England (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2011)