Coastal flood and erosion risk management in Wales

The Fifth Senedd Public Accounts Committee undertook an inquiry into this area publishing its Report in June 2017.

Recommendation 9 stated that the Welsh Government outline a medium/long term plan (post 2021) for funding projects which would be covered under the coastal risk management programme until 2021.

The Welsh Government advised the Coastal Risk Management Programme (CRMP) provides an opportunity for increased investment by Local Authorities in coastal risk management with funding awarded for construction from 2018-2021. This one-off programme made use of low interest rates and long term revenue funding to enable a £150 million investment. The Welsh Government planned to conduct a mid-programme review with Welsh Treasury and local authorities on the progress of CRMP as a funding mechanism and the requirement for medium to long term funding of coastal work by the end of the 2019-20 financial year.  Due to other pressures, the Programme was extended to March 2022.

The Auditor General for Wales’s work programme highlighted plans to follow up this area. The Public Accounts & Public Administration Committee will revisit this on publication of the Auditor General’s review.