Over 314,000 homes benefit from England flood protection work

A six year, £2.6bn project to safeguard houses in England against storms has exceeded its original target of helping 14,000 addresses. 

More than 314,000 homes have now benefited from flood protection work undertaken by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs between 2015 and 2021, far exceeding the original goal of 14,000. 

850 new flood and coastal erosion defence projects have completed in the past seven years, increasing the resilience of 580,000 acres of agricultural land, thousands of businesses and around 5,000 miles of roads have also benefited from schemes, reducing the national flood risk by 5%, and saving an estimated £28bn in property, economic and infrastructure damages since inception. 

The capital investment programme has also had a positive impact on the environment, in turn contributing to a wider ambition of recovering the UK’s lost biodiversity. Approximately 12,000 acres of natural habitat have been created or improved, with 435 miles of river enhanced. Every region of England received investment, with communities at the highest risk targeted for additional funding. Yorkshire and the Humber, for example, had more spent on flood defences than anywhere else in the country. 

‘Our programme of work has protected over 314,000 properties, defending people, communities, and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion. We know that there is still more to do, so we are doubling our investment with a record £5.2 billion over the next six years,’ said Environment Secretary, George Eustice. 

‘The Environment Agency’s six year flood defence building programme has better protected over 314,000 homes and businesses from the cost, pain and disruption of flooding,’ said Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency. ‘There are very few national infrastructure programmes that come in on time, on budget, and on target: I am very proud that the EA has achieved this. That is all down to the expertise, dedication and commitment of the EA teams and our partners across the country. They deserve the nation’s thanks.

‘Flood defence works. While we can never protect everyone against all flooding all the time, we can reduce the risk of it happening and the impact when it does. In February – for the first time – we had three named storms in a week, and rivers rose to record heights,’ she continued. ‘While some 400 properties sadly flooded, over 40,000 homes and businesses were protected by our defences.’

In related news, a report published earlier this year by the think tank Bright Blue suggested the UK is not prepared for the increased risk of flooding.

Image credit: Don Lodge