The North of England contains significant areas of high and medium risk from surface water[1], coastal, and river flooding[2]. Climate change will increase in this risk[3]. Floods in Cumbria and Yorkshire in 2015/16 resulted in over 20,000 properties flooded and over £1.5 billion of damage. Government investment between 2015 and 2021 in coastal and risk management in the North was equivalent to £700 per household, higher than the national average of £430 per household[4].

Nature has a key role through Natural Flood Management in coastal protection, slowing the flow or storing floodwaters[5]. Natural Flood Management includes a number of measures which work with natural processes to address flooding. These include interventions such as river restoration, creating leaky barriers, woodland planting in areas to slow the flow of water, soil and land management to prevent runoff and salt marsh restoration. Evidence indicates natural flood management interventions can play a complementary and beneficial role alongside investment in conventional flood management assets in addressing the risk from climate change[3].