Record investment to protect homes and businesses from flooding

The UK government has unveiled a record £2.65Bn investment in flood defence projects, set to build or maintain up to 1,000 defences and protect 66,500 homes and businesses from devastating floods.

Flood Defence investment breakdown

• New Defences – £2.65Bn over the next two years, delivering new flood protection for 52,000 properties by March 2026.
• Maintenance & Repairs – Additional funding will restore and strengthen existing defences, benefiting 14,500 properties across the country.

With extreme weather events becoming more frequent due to climate change, this funding aims to protect communities, support businesses, and safeguard key infrastructure. The investment will also protect farmland, ensuring greater security for agricultural businesses hit by recent storms.

Major Projects

Bridgwater Tidal Barrier, Somerset – £43M
Derby Flood Risk Scheme – £35M
Beales Corner, West Midlands – £2M
Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill, Dorset – £3.5M
Leicestershire, Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire flood resilience schemes – £2.5M

Essential Maintenance & Repairs

Stallingborough Sea Defences (Humber Estuary) – £7M
Pevensey Bay Sea Defence Repairs – £3.8M

Fast-Tracking Urgent Projects

Recognising delays in key flood defence schemes, £140M will be prioritised for 31 stalled projects, ensuring rapid delivery to protect communities. The full list of funded projects will be announced soon.

Steve Reed, Environment Secretary: “The storms this winter have devastated lives and businesses. Under our Plan for Change, we are making the largest-ever investment in flood defences to protect homes, jobs, and the UK economy.”

Alan Lovell, Chair, Environment Agency: “With climate change bringing more extreme weather, this funding is critical. We’ll work closely with the government to ensure communities get the protection they need.”

Future-Proofing UK Flood Defences

£57MFarming Recovery Fund – Supporting 12,700 rural businesses affected by flooding.
£75M Internal Drainage Board Fund – Strengthening agricultural water management.
34 Natural Flood Management Projects – Using sustainable solutions like wetlands and tree planting to enhance resilience.

With over 1,000 projects receiving investment, this record funding represents major opportunities for contractors, engineers, and suppliers in the construction and infrastructure sectors.

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