£36 million of funding for enhanced flood protection

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey has announced that 25 new schemes will receive a share of £36 million announced in the Autumn Statement to improve flood protection over the next three years.

It is hoped that the investment will protect thousands of homes from flooding, enhance the environment and bolster economic growth and tourism.

The bulk of the funding, £12 million, will improve the defences along the River Hull, in a project which began in 2016, to protect homes, businesses, infrastructure and areas of cultural importance within the city.

Coffey said: “This funding will benefit projects across the country from Hull to Gloucester, from Wolverhampton to the Wirral, that need an extra boost for flood defences to help our communities continue to prosper and grow in the future. Not only will this investment make places more resilient against flooding, but it will help the local economy, enhance the natural environment and protect important areas of culture - whether it is the homes, businesses and cultural sites in Hull to the pier in Seahouses or the natural environment in Gloucester.”

Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, said: “In the face of challenges like a changing climate, rising sea levels and more severe weather, the Environment Agency is working hard to protect people, homes and businesses from flooding. As with every project we undertake, we’re also striving to improve our environment and this additional funding will not only help us build flood defences, but restore vital habitat and bring nature back to some of our urban communities.”