Government commits £2.65bn flood funding to protect 66,000 properties

The Government has committed £2.65bn to better protect 52,000 properties from flooding and coastal erosion by March 2026. In addition, the maintenance of existing flood defences will be prioritised, environment secretary Steve Reed announced, protecting a further 14,500 properties.

Included in the funding is £108m for repairing and restoring critical assets – including £36m this year to target repairs to assets damaged in storms last winter and ongoing flood events – and £140m for 31 new defence schemes. A full list of the schemes to receive government funding in 2025-2026 will follow agreement with Regional Flood and Coastal Committees and local representatives.

Reed added: “This Government inherited an outdated funding formula for allocating money to proposed flood defences. Established in 2011, the existing formula slows down the delivery of new flood schemes through a complex application process and has resulted in projects with funding gaps. A consultation will be launched in the coming months, which will include a review of the existing funding formula, to ensure that the challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities are adequately considered when delivering flood protection.”