The Environment Agency has announced a set of new supplier arrangements and partnerships which will increase efficiency, value for money and the green legacy of its £2.6 billion capital investment programme.
The programme aims to better protect 300,000 homes from coastal erosion and flooding up to 2021 and beyond.
From April 2019 the Environment Agency's Next Generation Supplier Arrangements (NGSA) will form the basis of new ways of working which will help better protect people and the environment, whilst ensuring that sustainable development is at the core of Environment Agency projects.
The new arrangements have been developed using the Environment Agency's experience in the Flood and Coastal Risk Management sector, as well as learning from other leading public and private infrastructure providers. The arrangements promote innovative ways of collaborative working with delivery partners and local communities from the initial planning stages of a project right through to its completion.
The arrangements will also lead to a longer-term team working and news of engaging with local organisations and communities, which will ensure that homes, communities and businesses are receiving the best possible flood and coastal management for the challenges facing their area.
Also, flood and coastal defence projects will promote economic growth, social well-being and will seek to enhance levels of natural capital within the local community, making sure that each scheme brings long-lasting benefits for future generations.
Toby Willison, Executive Director of Operations at the Environment Agency commented "this ambitious new framework will help us to continue to deliver our £2.6 billion flood and coastal defence programme in a way which ensures that sustainability, efficiency and value for money remain at the very heart of the work we do to protect people, homes and the environment".
"The Environment Agency continues to work closely with partners and communities from across the country to deliver our commitment of investing £2.6 billion to better protect 300,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion over six years".
The arrangements also look to deliver low carbon solutions for projects, which will help the Environment Agency work towards the Government's commitment to reduce carbon emission by 80% by 2050.
The NGSA arrangements take effect immediately and run through to 2023 with the opportunity to extend to 2027.
