Scottish Government to Launch National Flood Advisory Service in Bold Step Towards Climate Resilience
The Scottish Government is taking a proactive approach to combat the growing threat of flooding with the launch of a National Flood Advisory Service, a key part of the country's first-ever National Flood Resilience Strategy. This comprehensive strategy aims to enhance flood resilience on a national scale by embedding best practices, supporting local communities, and strengthening governance for high-value flood actions like flood protection schemes.
With flooding events becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, this initiative marks a critical step in preparing Scotland’s communities for an uncertain future. The establishment of the advisory service, backed by an additional £15 million allocation in the draft 2025-2026 Scottish Budget, underscores the Scottish Government's commitment to long-term climate resilience.
At its core, the National Flood Advisory Service aims to offer practical advice and technical support to local authorities, community groups, and other stakeholders working on flood resilience. Its purpose is to provide a coordinated governance framework that ensures the most effective flood protection schemes are identified, designed, and delivered.
Rather than just focusing on reactive responses, the service aims to encourage proactive, community-led flood preparedness. It will deliver on-the-ground guidance on building local flood resilience, ensuring that homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure are better protected.
This service will play a crucial role in guiding communities on how to live with water, shifting from the traditional mindset of "fighting floods" to "adapting to them." This shift reflects a growing global consensus that mitigation efforts must coexist with nature-based solutions that increase community resilience.
The establishment of the Flood Advisory Service is just one part of a larger, more ambitious plan to tackle flood risk. The broader National Flood Resilience Strategy outlines a multi-faceted approach that moves beyond quick fixes and focuses on long-term, sustainable solutions.
Here are the three key action areas included in the strategy:
Adapting Urban and Rural Landscapes for Flood Mitigation
Acknowledging the significant role of both urban and rural areas in flood risk, Scotland aims to adopt a holistic approach to water management.
By redesigning landscapes and incorporating natural solutions such as wetlands, permeable surfaces, and floodable green spaces, the country aims to better manage water flow and reduce surface water flooding.
Smaller Flood Protection Schemes and Property-Level Flood Resilience
Beyond large flood protection schemes, the strategy emphasises smaller, localised flood measures.
Individual homes and businesses will be supported to take action on their own properties, such as installing flood barriers, raising electrical outlets, or using water-resistant materials.
Property-level protections are critical, as larger flood protection schemes often leave gaps that only smaller, localised defences can close.
Improving Data Usage and Community Awareness
Data-driven decision making is at the heart of the strategy, with improvements planned in how flood risk data is collected, analysed, and shared.
This will support early warning systems and allow communities to better prepare for future flood events.
Enhanced flood mapping and forecasting will provide local authorities with crucial information to plan interventions and strengthen community resilience.
The Scottish Government has been clear that climate change is not a future threat, it’s a present reality. Storms like Storm Babet in October 2023, which caused extensive flooding across Scotland, are becoming more frequent. According to Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin, climate change is already affecting Scotland's weather, with rising sea levels, intense rainfall, and higher river flows all contributing to the increase in flood risk.
Projections suggest that by 2080, the number of properties at risk of flooding in Scotland could rise from 284,000 to almost 400,000. These figures highlight the urgent need for a forward-looking flood strategy that shifts the focus from reaction to proactive flood resilience.
The National Flood Resilience Strategy is designed to address both the immediate risk and long-term consequences of flooding. By creating a system that builds resilience into Scotland’s homes, businesses, and public spaces, the Scottish Government hopes to minimise the human, financial, and environmental costs of future floods.
The strategy is backed by substantial financial commitments. In addition to the £42 million provided annually to local authorities for flood resilience, the government has committed an additional £150 million to support flood defence projects over the course of the current parliamentary term.
Looking forward, an extra £15 million has been allocated for 2025-2026 to fund key elements of the National Flood Resilience Strategy. This funding will support not only the National Flood Advisory Service but also other resilience measures, including property-level protections and coastal adaptation.
The financial commitment is seen as crucial for delivering high-value flood actions. Without sustained and predictable investment, many flood protection schemes would be delayed, leaving communities vulnerable.
The National Flood Resilience Strategy is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on Scottish communities, including:
Increased Community Protection: More flood defences, enhanced property-level resilience, and a focus on community-driven solutions will directly reduce the impact of floods on people’s lives.
Job Creation and Economic Boost: Construction, design, and technical jobs are likely to be created as new flood protection schemes are rolled out.
Reduced Insurance Costs: Homes and businesses with flood resilience measures may benefit from reduced insurance premiums.
Peace of Mind: By embedding flood risk awareness into local communities, people will have access to better information and tools to protect themselves and their homes.
The National Flood Advisory Service will be one of the first deliverables from the strategy, with an implementation plan currently in development. This service will bring together expertise from local authorities, SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency), and community organisations to coordinate Scotland's flood resilience efforts.
The next step involves the development of a detailed implementation plan, which will outline how each of the strategy's six key action areas will be achieved. This plan is expected to include timelines, funding allocations, and specific actions for local authorities, delivery partners, and communities.
Scotland’s National Flood Resilience Strategy marks a shift towards proactive, community-focused flood protection. By setting up the National Flood Advisory Service, investing in natural flood solutions, and prioritising property-level resilience, Scotland is positioning itself as a leader in climate adaptation.
This strategy acknowledges that floods are inevitable in a warming world but insists that the impact does not have to be catastrophic. The focus on early intervention, flood awareness, and resilience-building measures provides a blueprint for other regions grappling with the same issues.
