Over the past two years, we have seen record levels of rainfall across our region and while we’re working hard to make sure our network is resilient against these types of events, we can’t do it alone.  

We’ve established a series of Multi-Agency Groups (MAGS) by bringing together the different agencies with responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act. This includes, local councils, the Environment Agency, Highway Authorities and Lead Local Flood Authorities.  Which is exactly what is happening in Norfolk, with the creation of the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance.  

Addressing flooding in Norfolk 

Following widespread flooding across Norfolk in the winter of 2021, the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance (NSFA) was founded. One of the most established MAG’s in the region, the NSFA brings together the Environment Agency, Norfolk County Council (including highways), the Broads Authority and the Water Management Alliance to protect communities and infrastructure within Norfolk from the risks of inland and coastal flooding, as well as drought.  

In 2024, Anglian Water’s Rob Kelly joined the NSFA on a secondment as Water Management Director. Bringing prior experience of flood management, Rob has since been working with communities and stakeholders to promote an integrated approach that addresses flooding from all sources - surface water, river, coastal, and groundwater – and to ensure that solutions are comprehensive, and work is not carried out in siloes.   

Having worked together for over a year, the NSFA has gained an improved understanding of how systems interconnect, the importance of regular asset maintenance and joined up maintenance where assets are collective, sharing data to better understand flood risk and model scenarios, and securing funding for flood mitigation projects that will benefit multiple stakeholders – alongside a regular drumbeat of meetings to ensure flood and water management is on the agenda throughout year.   

With a greater awareness of the opportunity for MAGS, the aspiration of the NSFA is to create a blueprint for other flood-threatened counties to follow, working towards the following ideals:   

• The location, condition and ownership of all drainage channels, culverts and watercourses is known, with a programme in place to maintain and highlight when and if something is not working as it should, with a means for additional schemes. 
  
  
• Communities feel that they are being listened to by authorities, with open and honest conversations had as to what can and can’t be done. While the alliance will not solve everything, communities will feel that everything that could sensibly be done has been considered. 
  
  
• National legislation is fit for purpose and reflects what is needed now and into the next decade in response to climate change and changing demands  

Encouraging collaboration 

The purpose of a MAG is to provide a forum which facilitates collaboration among the various stakeholders responsible for managing and reducing the risk of flooding at a catchment level across our region. These groups aim to enhance preparedness, response, and the recovery efforts related to the prolonged wet weather periods we experience.  

We know that the financial cost of flooding can be thousands, but this is nothing compared to the physical and emotional impact it has on those involved. This is why we’ve helped to set up 11 multi-agency groups in specific flooding hotspots, such as Norfolk, to ensure we’re bringing the right people together to tackle flooding holistically. 

In addition to this, through our Flooding Partnership Fund, we’re encouraging and supporting organisations to work in partnership to reduce the impact of flooding. From installing rain gardens to building wetlands, these projects, which are spread across the region, are playing a small but vital role in tackling flooding within communities.  

While we can’t stop the rain, we’re committed to doing our bit to reduce the impact on homes and businesses in our region.