Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) as a viable approach to the funding of flood defence projects; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which this approach would ensure an appropriate sharing of costs and risks between the contractor and the DBFO client.

Most flood defence improvement schemes managed by the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities are delivered through private sector suppliers. When considering how best to procure the improvement and maintenance of defences the Environment Agency and other risk management authorities consider a wide range of options including design, build and operate. Private financing may form part of this where the scheme is not fully funded by government.