Water sustains us. It is essential to our well-being, the health of the environment, it underpins our economy and is integral to our culture, heritage and national identity. As our climate changes, alongside broader pressures from factors such as ageing infrastructure, shifting demographics and land-use change, the hazards our water presents are increasing and will affect our communities in different ways.

The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) has been set a remit by Welsh Ministers, as part of the 2021 Welsh Government Co-operation Agreement, for this Senedd term to conduct ‘an assessment of how the nationwide likelihood of flooding of homes, business, and other infrastructure can be minimised by 2050’. As a result, NICW defined the Managing Flood Impacts in Wales 2050 project. This project seeks to identify policy or practical action for infrastructure which supports the mitigation of flood risk, improves resilience and helps ‘better protect’ Wales. Within this project, forming one of four workstreams, NICW commissioned Arup to develop a long-term vision for Wales to provide clarity in direction and inspire individuals, communities and organisations of a hopeful future where we are adaptive and resilient to future flood risks. 

This website describes the outcome of this project, a shared vision for a flood resilient Wales in 2050, and the process and collaborators involved in developing it. The vision described is intended to be a starting point. Our hope is that it facilitates a broader national conversation around how we in Wales want to be resilient and adapt to future challenges. 

Based on the findings of this workstream, NICW will be drafting a series of recommendations which will be presented to Welsh Government on how Wales can respond to the increasing challenges ahead around flood resilience.

What is a vision?

“Collectively imagined forms of social life and social order reflected in the design and fulfilment of nation-specific scientific and/or technological projects.“

Sheila Jasanoff, Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the Harvard Kennedy School

Who was involved?

• Arup – Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts. Arup led the design and delivery of the project and supported the design of the final website hosting the vision and supporting scenarios and illustrations.
• Grasshopper – Grasshopper are a Welsh communications agency with a creative edge and commitment to engaging communities. They supported Arup with promoting and facilitating the workshops and steering the direction of their content.
• Project Advisory Group – The NICW PAG is made up of a range of stakeholders with relevant expertise in the flood resilience sector in Wales. The PAG, specifically the Flood Committee, were influential in supporting and shaping the direction of this project.
• Prith Biant – A Wales-based painter who considers issues related to identity, representation and the body in her artwork. Prith created the art-work that encapsulates the vision and forms its backdrop.
• Workshop participants – Over 80+ participants from diverse backgrounds attended and participated in the workshops. A huge thank you for giving your time and valued contributions which drove the direction of this workstream.
• Arts Council Wales – Responsible for funding and developing the arts in Wales, they provided guidance on how to engage with the Welsh creative sector.
• NICW – the Commissioning organisation that participated in the project, developed the final version of this website, and managed the overall flooding project