Following severe floods in 2007, Sir Michael Pitt was asked to carry out an independent review by the Government into what happened and what should be done differently in the future.

Recommendations from the Pitt Review included the production of Surface Water Management Plans for high risk areas. These should be prepared by local authorities, in collaboration with the Environment Agency and the water industry.

The development of six Surface Water Management Plans has so far been funded by Defra in our region. We are currently working with the relevant county councils to develop these plans in Portsmouth, Southampton, Worthing, Brighton, Eastbourne and Dover.