The government has announced details of ‘the largest flood defence investment programme in history’, with £7.9 billion earmarked to protect ‘hundreds of thousands of homes, small businesses and vital infrastructure’.
The 10-year programme will deliver high-performance flood barriers and nature-based solutions such as wetland restoration to offer long-term protection from flooding. Every £1 spent on flood defences is expected to prevent around £8 in economic damage, the government said in the announcement.
Environment secretary Steve Reed commented:
“Protecting citizens is the first duty of any Government. Yet we inherited crumbling flood defences in their worst condition on record – exposing thousands of homes. Under the Plan for Change, this Government is taking urgent action with the largest flooding programme in our country’s history.”
Philip Duffy, chief executive at the Environment Agency, said:
“As our changing climate continues to bring more extreme weather to the nation, it’s never been more vital to invest in new flood defences and repair our existing assets This long-term investment will be welcome news for businesses and homeowners, who have too often faced the destructive nature of flooding. Our priority will continue to be working with the government and local authorities to ensure as many properties are protected as possible.”
Earlier this month, the government launched a consultation on its proposals to introduce a simple and more transparent approach to bid for government funding for flood defences.
The consultation will also consider how communities can make better use of property flood resilience measures such as flood doors or smart air bricks, which help prevent water from entering a property or reduce the amount of floodwater that enters during significant flooding.
At the launch of the consultation, Environment Agency executive director for flood and coastal risk management Caroline Douglass said:
“Better protecting communities in England from the devastating impacts of flooding is one of our top priorities as climate change brings more extreme weather.
“We support the government’s bold strategic vision to transform the approach to investment in resilience to flood and coastal erosion, helping to streamline the delivery of flood schemes and improve existing assets to protect communities better.”
The consultation is open until 29th July and can be found at https://consult.defra.gov.uk/floods-and-water/reforming-our-approach-to-floods-funding/
One Response
I have learnt with this government to take every thing say with a high degree of scepticism.
Surely the better approach is to stop building houses on flood plains? On too many occasions the views of the Environment Agency have been noted but then ignored. Water can flood a site from beneath the land.
For property lawyers beware of sites where there are ‘flood mitigation measures’ in situ. Many developers say they have installed these only for bewildered homeowners to wake up one morning to see flood water lapping at the back French doors! Moreover flood waters can bring with them harmful contaminants.
So conveyancers must in new builds ask probing questions of the developer and of the Environment Agency. Read the planning file. The client should be advised to speak to local people.
On a site several miles from me am large development site has the nickname ‘Little Venice’!