UK Government unveils £2.65bn investment in flood defences

The UK Government has announced a record £2.65bn investment to improve flood defences designed to protect more than 66,000 homes and businesses.
The funding will be used to build new barriers and maintain existing defences meaning that by March 2026, approximately 52,000 properties will benefit from newly built flood defences, while an additional 14,500 properties will see improvements from maintenance and repairs.
The aim is to reduce the economic damage caused every year by flooding.
The Government has identified 3,000 of the Environment Agency (EA)’s 38,000 high-consequence assets as being below the required standard and the extra funds will be directed to up to 1,000 projects.
Key schemes include the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Flood Defence Scheme in Somerset (£43m), Derby’s “Our City Our River” flood risk management initiative (£35m), the Beales Corner project in Bewdley (£2m), Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill flood defences in Dorset (£3.5m), and property flood resilience schemes across Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire (£2.5m).
More than £7m has been set aside for Phase 3 of the Stallingborough Sea Defences along the Humber Estuary, and £3.8m will be used to help strengthen sea defences in Pevensey Bay.
The Government has committed £36m this year for urgent repairs to defences damaged by last winter’s floods. Next year, £72m will be spent on further maintenance and repairs, it has been announced.
An additional £140m will be used towards funding 31 projects that are ready for immediate implementation.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said: “The storms this winter have devastated lives and livelihoods.
“The role of any Government is to protect its citizens. Under our Plan for Change, we are investing a record £2.65bn to build and maintenance flood defences to protect lives, homes and businesses from the dangers of flooding.”
Figures released last year by the Environment Agency indicated almost 6.3 million properties across England are at risk of flooding from rivers, seawater, or surface water.
A separate report added that the properties most at risk of flooding could face more than £818m in costs within 30 years.
The Government has also launched a new Floods Resilience Taskforce, In addition, the Government has also launched a new floods resilience taskforce which includes Government officials and representatives from the Met Office, Local Resilience Forums and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). The Taskforce will assess responses to recent floods and review the Government’s funding formula for flood and coastal defence projects.
More than £57m has been paid out through the Farming Recovery Fund to support 12,700 businesses affected by severe weather. An additional £50m has been allocated to internal drainage boards as part of a £75m fund for water level management
The Environment Agency has confirmed that 34 natural flood management projects will go ahead, including tree planting, wetland restoration and blue-green drainage systems.
EA chair Alan Lovell said: “The impact of flooding on our communities will only become greater as climate change brings more extreme weather, like Storms Bert, Conall and Éowyn.
“With this new funding, we will work closely with the Government to deliver the vital projects that are needed across the country, ensuring our investment goes to those communities who need it the most.”
Syntegra MD Alan King said: “Flooding is becoming increasingly common due to climate change and we can see how badly some communities are affected.
“Shoring up and increasing flood defences and implementing any kind of mitigation scheme are welcome moves by the Government.
“The construction industry stands willing to work with the EA to make the best use of additional funding and build the most sustainable properties possible moving forward.”