Consultation on Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) for Flood Risk Management in Scotland 2024

Closed 24 Jun 2024

Opened 25 Mar 2024

Contact

frmplanning@sepa.org.uk

Feedback updated 17 Dec 2024

We asked

As part of our review of Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) for flood risk management in Scotland, we asked for your views on:

  • Moving to community-scale PVAs.
  • Designating specific communities as PVAs.
  • Improving SEPA’s flood preparedness tools and resources.

You said

  • 64% of you agreed with our approach, describing it as sensible and fair. However, 10% of you disagreed, raising concerns about gaps in addressing surface water flooding and the accuracy of our flood data.
  •  71% of you supported the move to community-scale PVAs, saying it made the designations clearer and more relevant locally. Some of you, however, expressed concerns about how this change might shift responsibilities for flood management.
  • 52% of you agreed with the proposed designations for your local areas, but 33% disagreed, citing concerns about flood data accuracy, potential impacts on property sales, and insurance premiums.
  • You told us that our flood preparedness resources need to be more user-friendly and accessible.

We did

We discussed your feedback with local authorities and made several changes to community designations. We added Finavon and Kinbuck as new PVAs based on evidence received from the consultation. We expanded the boundaries for Bannockburn and Oban to better match their community boundaries. For Golspie, we updated the PVA description to clarify the flood risks. Additionally, we will use your feedback to improve SEPA’s flood tools, making them easier to understand and use. These changes will help us refine our flood risk management plans to meet community needs.

Results updated 17 Dec 2024

More information about the feedback we received and the actions we have taken in response are provided in the Potentially Vulnerable Areas for Flood Risk Management in Scotland 2024 Consultation Summary Report.

Files:

Links:

Overview

What are Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs)?

Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) are areas where significant flood risk exists now, or is likely to occur in the future, and they help Scotland to understand and prioritise where work could benefit the most. They are a vital part of protecting people, properties, businesses, communities, infrastructure, and our environment.

The PVAs are updated and published every six years. They were first identified in 2011 and were updated in 2018. In December 2024, they are due to be updated again. In this consultation we would like your views on the proposed changes.

The following pages will explain how and why we have made changes to the PVAs.

Why your views matter

We want your views on the proposed PVAs.

After the consultation closes on 24 June 2024, we will publish a summary of responses on our website. We will take account of views received and submit proposals to Scottish Ministers later this year.

Scottish Ministers will then formally designate the PVAs and they will be published in December 2024. We will also use the consultation responses to inform future flood risk management work.

How we use your feedback

As Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, our purpose is to protect and improve Scotland’s environment in ways that, as far as possible, also contribute to improving health and well-being and achieving sustainable economic growth. Our Corporate Plan 2024-2027 sets our strategic ambition and priorities. Our Annual Operating Plans set out how we will implement our priorities every year.

In delivering these priorities we engage with those who have an interest in and/or are affected by our regulations and duties. One way we engage is through formal consultations. This is your opportunity to tell us what you think about our proposals. The feedback we receive helps us to understand what matters most to people and how we can deliver our duties efficiently and effectively.

After the consultation closes, we’ll consider the information we receive before publishing a digest of responses through the We asked, You said, We did section of our consultation website. This will close the consultation process by explaining how we have considered and, where appropriate, acted upon what we heard.

Start the online survey by clicking on the link below. Answering the questions should take about 10 minutes, although you may want to explore some of the information for longer. By entering the consultation survey, you agree for your data to be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

Paper copies of the survey and supporting documentation can be seen and filled in at SEPA's Edinburgh, Euro-central and Dingwall offices. If you would like to fill in a hard copy, or request an alternative format, i.e. large-scale print, please get in touch with the SEPA Contact centre (SCC) on 03000 996699 to arrange an appointment. If you need assistance to complete the consultation, please get in touch with us at frmplanning@sepa.org.uk.

You can request the deletion of your submission from the consultation at any time, during or after the consultation, by contacting us at: frmplanning@sepa.org.uk.

Audiences

  • Local Authorities
  • Responsible Authorities
  • National Parks
  • FRM LAG members
  • Public
  • Local community

Interests

  • Flood Risk Management Planning