12. Appraisal reports and other documents

This section explains how to report the results of your appraisal and identifies the guidance you need to use produce a business case.

Appraisal reports

You should use an appraisal report to provide a clear and comprehensive record of your appraisal process, the evidence you’ve collected and your conclusions.

Your appraisal report should be useful to current and future decision making and internal and external partners. It should be a public document if possible.

What you should include in the appraisal report

You must make your report relevant and proportionate to your project and the purpose of your appraisal. Early project stage reports should focus on key costs and benefits to help understand affordability and project direction.

If your appraisal includes more complex technical analysis and studies, you should include summary information in your appraisal report. You should also use appendices to present the full details.

A full appraisal report should include details of:

  • the problem
  • the sources and pathways of flood and coastal erosion risk
  • the geographical boundaries
  • your appraisal objectives
  • your project type and baseline

If it’s an options appraisal you should also:

  • define CSFs
  • identify, develop and shortlist options
  • quantify and value impacts
  • value impacts
  • compare options
  • recommend your preferred option

You may not need a standalone appraisal report if you’re developing a higher value business case which is not supported by a local FCERM strategy. You may also not need one if you’re developing a local FCERM strategy or an application for funding from sources other than FCERM GIA.

Your appraisal report will help you prepare your business case or strategy.

Local FCERM strategies

You may be developing an FCERM strategy using a complex change type project. You should write this strategy based on the suggested appraisal report content above and tailor it to suit the circumstances of your appraisal and strategy area.

Your strategy should set out how flood and coastal erosion risk will be managed and should also set out a programme of investments and actions over the short, medium and long term.

You should normally use a non-technical summary to communicate your strategy more widely.

FCERM business case

You’ll need to develop a formal business case to support an application for FCERM GIA. You should explain if your business case is supported by a separate appraisal report or by an agreed local FCERM strategy or AMP. These should simplify your business case.

The Environment Agency uses the HM Treasury 5-case model as the basis for business cases that support applications for FCERM GIA. You must follow the develop an FCERM project business case guidance.

Inputs to complete your appraisal report

As you worked through the appraisal, you’ll have documented your:

  • approaches
  • assumptions
  • outputs
  • conclusions
  • communications recorded in your SEP
  • environmental assessment

Depending on your project type you may also have an agreed local FCERM strategy or AMP. These should simplify your business case.

Read the full technical guidance

If you need to understand the full technical content you should see section 12 – appraisal reports and other documents in the FCERM technical guidance.