Flooding defences: Govt pledges to spend £2.6bn in next two years


The UK government’s spending on flood defences is predicted to rise to the highest level in history. In England, over the next two years, more than £2.6bn will be invested in safeguarding homes and businesses to combat the pressing issue of flooding. This investment will surpass the previously reported figure by £250m. With the objective of executing projects that range from tidal barriers and flood walls to natural solutions that gradually reduce water flow.

According to the Environment Agency’s latest comprehensive assessment, over 6.3 million homes in England are in danger of flooding from rivers, seas, and surface water. The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, said that “The storms this winter have devastated lives and livelihoods. The role of any government is to protect its citizens.” Between 2021 and 2024, spending on flood defences was just over £1bn a year. However, a cross-party team of MPs have reported that the conservative government had failed to maintain sufficient existing flood defences or to construct enough new flood defences.

Over the next two years, more than 66,000 of the most vulnerable properties will receive protection from nearly 1,000 projects that will be funded as a result of this investment. Projects such as the £43m Bridgwater Tidal Barrier Flood Defence Scheme in Somerset, the £35m flood-risk-management scheme in Derby, the £3.5m Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme in Dorset, the £2.5m fund the property-flood-resilience schemes will benefit Leicester, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire while £2m will be spent on protecting the communities in Bewdley, Worcestershire. Projects worth over £100m will also be initiated to fix and maintain defences, some of which were destroyed in last year’s floods.

Alan Lovell, the Chairman of the Environment Agency, stated that “With this new funding, we will work together with the government to execute the essential projects required throughout the country, ensuring our investment corresponds to support the communities that need it the most.” Therefore, flood defences must be constructed to protect the most at-risk properties in England and defend them against the increasingly dangerous climate-change-driven flood risk

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