2. The FCERM appraisal guidance, supplementary guidance and related links
This section describes the 2 versions of the appraisal guidance and how to decide which one you should use. It also lists the supplementary guidance you should use to help you with specific parts of your appraisal projects.
This appraisal guidance manual
This manual is a non-technical version of the appraisal that provides an overview of the FCERM appraisal stages.
You should read it if you’re :
- a less experienced appraisal practitioner
- have specific subject interests, for example if you’re an assurer
- a stakeholder wanting to understand how you can contribute to and influence the appraisal
- more experienced but want a reminder of the appraisal process
The manual summarises the key stages and requirements of the full guidance. There are links at the end of each section that you will take you to the relevant part of the technical guidance.
At the end of each manual section is a set of prompts.
These explain the:
- inputs – what you should have before you start the stage
- checkpoints – brief checks to identify if your stage is complete
- outputs – what you should have when the stage is complete
The technical appraisal guidance
You should read the technical appraisal guidanceif you’re an appraisal practitioner and need to understand the appraisal steps in detail.
Sections 1 to 4 in the technical appraisal guidance are similar to this manual.
Sections 5 to 13 provide more detail on the purpose and ways to approach the different appraisal tasks. There are links at the end of each section of this manual that let you go straight to the relevant section in the technical appraisal guidance.
You should read the technical appraisal guidance if you are:
- leading or managing a FCERM appraisal project
- a specialist and stakeholder who needs to understand specific stages of appraisal
- someone who wants to increase their knowledge of undertaking a FCERM appraisal
The technical appraisal guidance also provides links to relevant detailed supplementary guidance and sources of useful information.
How the appraisal guidance is structured
Your appraisal should be an iterative process where you develop, discuss and discard lots of options throughout.
Each section in the guidance is a step in the appraisal process. The sections can be grouped into 4 parts.
Define the scope of the appraisal by following these stages:
- understand and define the appraisal need
- set the appraisal objectives and critical success factors
- identify the type of project and set the project baseline
Develop, describe and value appraisal options by following these stages:
- identify the longlist of options and then reduce options to a shortlist
- describe and estimate costs
- identify, quantify and value impacts
Compare and select the preferred option by following these stages:
Monitor and evaluate the appraisal by following these stages:
Supplementary guidance
There is supplementary guidance which provides detailed methodologies, data and tools on specific aspects of appraisal. It contains technical content and is primarily written for subject matter specialists undertaking specific tasks for in the FCERM appraisal.
The table lists this guidance and when you should use it.
| Item | When you should use it |
|---|---|
| Supporting spreadsheet to economic appraisal for an FCERM project | For all projects to summarise the outputs of an FCERM project economic appraisal |
| Supporting document for the FCERM appraisal summary table | For all projects presenting information in the appraisal summary table |
| Flood and coastal risk projects, schemes and strategies: climate change allowances | For all projects using the climate change allowances |
| Development of interim national guidance on non-stationary fluvial flood frequency estimation | Only for projects that need tools and techniques to help detect and take account of non-stationarity in flood frequency estimation |
| Accounting for residual uncertainty: an update to the fluvial freeboard guide | For projects that need to identify and manage uncertainty in flood risk assessment and design |
| Accounting for adaptive capacity in FCERM options appraisal | For projects that need to adjust to and benefit from future change and need tools to make sure that future flexibility is properly valued |
| Mental health costs of flooding and erosion | For all projects that need to assess the mental health costs of flooding and coastal erosion |
| Assess and value the risk to life from flooding | For all projects that need to value the risk to life associated with flooding |
| Socio-economic equity and human-related impacts of flooding | If your appraisal needs to include socio-economic equity and human-related flooding impacts |
| FCERM economic valuation of environmental effects | If your appraisal needs to include the monetary value of environmental effects associated with FCERM projects |
| Assess coastal erosion and landsliding for FCERM funding | If you need to assess coastal erosion, cliff instability and coastal landslides |
| FCERM appraisal: valuation of agricultural land and output | If your appraisal needs to value agricultural land and output |
| FCERM grant in aid: discount rates, price indices and capping | For all projects to apply discount rates, price indices and capping in economic appraisals |
| Value environmental improvements that deliver environmental benefits and outcome measure 4 (OM4) | If you need to appraise and value the environmental impacts of FCERM projects |