The government, through the Environment Agency, is spending £2.65bn over two years on the construction of new flood schemes and the repair and maintenance of existing ones.
During the two-year investment (April 2024 to March 2026), 1,000 flood schemes have been or will continue to be supported.
Now moving into the second half of the two-year programme, £430m is going towards the construction of new flood defences in the coming year, while a further £220m will go on repairs to reinstate flood defences to their full standard of service and original design life.
Further funding has been earmarked for repairing flood assets used in flood events, such as pumps.
Schemes to receive funding this year include:
- Derby flood risk management scheme, which will receive £34.6m and protect 673 homes.
- North Portsea Island coastal flood and erosion risk management scheme in Hampshire, which will receive £13.8m and protect 1,081 homes.
- Preston and South Ribble flood risk management scheme in Lancashire, which will receive £10.4m and protect 1,537 homes.
- Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill flood defences in Dorset, which will receive £12.2m and protect 135 homes.
- Benacre and Kessingland flood risk management scheme in Suffolk, which will receive £10.1m and protect 86 homes.
- Brighouse flood alleviation scheme in Yorkshire, which will receive £5 million and protect 414 homes.
The government has prioritised £140m to ensure that 29 schemes, which are in progress but struggling with cost pressures, can continue to be delivered. The list of supported schemes has also been confirmed by the Environment Agency and includes flood defences in Great Yarmouth and the Alverstoke Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme on the south coast.
Caroline Douglass, executive director for flood and coastal risk management at the Environment Agency, said: “Protecting communities in England from the devastating impact of flooding is our priority and this is more important than ever as climate change brings more extreme weather to the nation.
“The delivery of these schemes will be welcome news for homeowners and businesses, who have experienced flooding in the past and may face more extreme weather as our climate continues to change.
“Our focus is now on working with local councils and regional flood and coastal committees to deliver these schemes on time, ensuring as many properties as possible are protected.”
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