About us
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-31)

The Environment Agency works to create better places for people and wildlife, and supports sustainable development.

Who we are

The Environment Agency was established in 1996 to protect and improve the environment. We have over 12,000 employees. Our head office is in Bristol and we have another office in London. We have offices across England, divided into 14 areas listed below. See a map of our areas (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-area-and-region-operational-locations).

North

North East Cumbria and Lancashire Yorkshire Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire

West

Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire East Midlands West Midlands Wessex Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

South East

East Anglia Thames Hertfordshire and North London Kent, South London and East Sussex Solent and South Downs

Responsibilities

Within England we are responsible for:
- regulating major industry and waste
- treatment of contaminated land
- water quality and resources
- fisheries
- inland river, estuary and harbour navigations
- conservation and ecology
We are also responsible for managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, reservoirs, estuaries and the sea.

Lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) are responsible for managing the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses and lead on community recovery.

More detail about who is responsible for managing flood risks (https://www.gov.uk/flood-risk-management-information-for-flood-risk-management-authorities-asset-owners-and-local-authorities#managing-flood-risks-who-is-responsible).

Priorities

Our priorities are to:
- work with businesses and other organisations to manage the use of resources
- increase the resilience of people, property and businesses to the risks of flooding and coastal erosion
- protect and improving water, land and biodiversity
- improve the way we work as a regulator to protect people and the environment and support sustainable growth
Read more about:
- Environment Agency: EA2030 change for a better environment (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-ea2030-change-for-a-better-environment)
- Environment Agency business plans (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-business-plans)
Regional flood and coastal committees

The RFCCs were set up by the Environment Agency under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. They bring together members appointed by LLFAs and independent members with relevant experience for 3 purposes:
- to ensure there are coherent plans for identifying, communicating and managing flood and coastal erosion risks across catchments and shorelines
- to encourage efficient, targeted and risk-based investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management that represents value for money and benefits local communities
- to provide a link between the Environment Agency, LLFAs, other risk management authorities, and other relevant bodies to build understanding of flood and coastal erosion risks in its area
Find contact details and recent minutes for:
- Anglian Central Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/anglian-central-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Anglian Eastern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/anglian-eastern-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Anglian Northern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/anglian-northern-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- English Severn and Wye Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/english-severn-and-wye-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/north-west-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/northumbria-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- South West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/south-west-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/southern-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/thames-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/trent-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Wessex Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/wessex-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)
- Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-teams/yorkshire-regional-flood-and-coastal-committee)