Several colleagues contributed separate written submissions which answered a number of questions the Inquiry was seeking answers to.
In her submission, Dr Katie Parsons discussed the importance of embracing participatory, community-led approaches rooted in inclusivity, intergenerational engagement and social return on investment.
Dr Tim Marjoribanks’ submission was written in collaboration with a number of researchers including Loughborough University’s Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Impact and Internationalisation, Professor Ksenia Chmutina. It drew on research conducted on nature-based solutions for flood resilience at Loughborough University in collaboration with the University of Leicester and the University of Lincoln that highlighted inequity in current funding mechanisms. Nature-based solutions such as Natural Flood Management (NFM) are an essential part of the UK strategy to mitigate the threats associated with flooding and biodiversity loss.
Dr Josh Wolstenholme's submission recommended that efforts must be made to increase understanding of river processes and how these might change with climate change. It also recommended that policymakers develop opportunities for devolved community-level funding for nature-based solution creation and monitoring.
The Inquiry examined how flood resilience can be strengthened in response to increasing risks from extreme weather, sea-level rise, and changing flood hazards. In its final Report, the Committee urges Government to prioritise investment for communities most at risk particularly those who face “the greatest hardships and repeated flood events”. They say it should incorporate factors such as deprivation, health inequalities, insurance exclusion, and rural isolation in decision making.
The Committee also recommends that the Government:
- Increase the flood budget to at least £1.5 billion per year by 2030, as recommended by the former National Infrastructure Commission
- Work with the insurance and mortgage sectors to set up a successor flood insurance scheme to Flood Re, due to end in 2039.
These contributions underscore Loughborough’s growing role in shaping national policy debates on environmental resilience and the transition to more equitable, sustainable approaches to flood management.