Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Flood and Water Management Partnership

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Flood and Water Management Partnership
Name	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Flood and Water Management Partnership
Formation	2010s
Type	Partnership
Region served	Cambridgeshire; Peterborough
Headquarters	Cambridge

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Flood and Water Management Partnership is a regional consortium created to coordinate flood risk reduction and water resources management across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and adjacent areas of East of England. It brings together local authorities, statutory agencies and infrastructure bodies to deliver integrated responses to surface water, river and coastal flooding, groundwater management and drainage issues in the wake of major flood events such as the 2007 United Kingdom floods and subsequent winter storms. The Partnership operates at the interface of county-level planning, national regulation and community resilience, linking strategic plans with on-the-ground projects.

History and formation

The Partnership emerged after high-profile incidents including the 2007 United Kingdom floods, debates in the UK Parliament and reviews by the Environment Agency that highlighted vulnerabilities in the River Great Ouse catchment and fenland systems. Local initiatives by Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council and district councils such as Huntingdonshire District Council and Fenland District Council coalesced with statutory duties under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Early meetings included representatives from infrastructure agencies like Anglian Water and navigation authorities such as the Middle Level Commissioners, aiming to integrate flood defence, drainage and sustainable urban drainage systems after storms like Cyclone Dirk. The Partnership’s structure and remit reflect changes driven by national policy reviews and regional resilience workstreams tied to resilience exercises such as those coordinated by Civil Contingencies Secretariat partners.

Governance and organizational structure

Governance is provided through a board and working groups composed of elected and appointed members from Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council, district councils, the Environment Agency, Natural England and utility companies including Anglian Water and National Grid. Technical advisory groups draw experts from academic institutions such as the University of Cambridge, specialist consultancies and flood risk bodies like Association of Drainage Authorities and the Institution of Civil Engineers. Formal reporting lines interface with regional bodies including the Local Resilience Forum and national regulators such as Ofwat. Decision-making follows statutory frameworks established by the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and planning consents administered under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Roles and responsibilities

The Partnership clarifies roles assigned to Lead Local Flood Authorities represented by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, with the Environment Agency retaining responsibility for main river and coastal flood risk. Responsibilities include mapping flood risk, maintaining flood defence assets owned by internal drainage boards such as the Little Ouse and Wilford Internal Drainage Board, coordinating emergency responses with Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Peterborough Fire and Rescue Service, and advising on development control with input from planning authorities like South Cambridgeshire District Council. The Partnership also liaises with infrastructure operators including Network Rail and Highways England over transport corridor resilience.

Flood risk management strategies and projects

Strategic plans encompass catchment-scale interventions on the River Nene, River Great Ouse and tributaries, urban sustainable drainage schemes in areas such as Cambridge and Peterborough, and rural land management in the Fens. Projects have included embankment upgrades informed by modelling from Met Office datasets, creation of washlands and flood storage basins inspired by schemes on the River Ely, and retrofitted Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) aligned with guidance from the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. Pilot projects have partnered with initiatives funded by the European Regional Development Fund and national resilience funding streams following events like the 2013–14 United Kingdom winter floods. Infrastructure work has coordinated with river navigation authorities such as the Middle Level Commissioners and irrigation stakeholders including Cromwell Farms-style enterprises.

Partnerships and stakeholder engagement

The Partnership operates through formal collaboration with statutory bodies including the Environment Agency, Anglian Water, Natural England and internal drainage boards, and engages community groups such as parish councils across places like St Ives, Cambridgeshire and March, Cambridgeshire. It runs stakeholder consultations that involve conservation NGOs like The Wildlife Trusts, heritage organizations including Historic England when works affect archaeological sites, and academic partners such as the Anglia Ruskin University and research units at the British Geological Survey. Engagement extends to industry bodies like the Royal Town Planning Institute and professional institutes such as the Institution of Civil Engineers for knowledge transfer.

Funding and resources

Funding streams combine local levy funding from internal drainage boards, capital allocations from Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, grants from national sources administered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and targeted investment from regulators like Ofwat. Additional finance has been secured through competitive bids to national resilience funds and previously to European funding instruments like the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund. Private-sector cost-sharing mechanisms involve developers under planning agreements and contributions guided by policy in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Monitoring, assessment, and performance metrics

Monitoring employs hydrometric networks managed in partnership with the Environment Agency and data providers like the Met Office and British Geological Survey, combined with telemetry from local drainage boards and asset inspections by contractors accredited through the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management. Performance metrics include reductions in properties at flood risk recorded in Flood Re datasets, response times coordinated with the Local Resilience Forum, condition ratings for flood assets referencing standards from the Institution of Civil Engineers, and outcomes reported to oversight bodies such as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Adaptive management uses modelling tools developed in collaboration with universities and consultancy partners to refine interventions after events such as the 2007 United Kingdom floods and Storm Desmond.

Category:Flood control in England Category:Environment of Cambridgeshire