Displaying items by tag: flood defences

The Government has announced an extra £250 million in funding for flood defences in England, bringing total investment to a record £2.65 billion. The funding aims to protect 66,500 more properties over two years, following accusations that the previous government underfunded flood defences, leaving communities vulnerable. Floods minister Emma Hardy criticised past Conservative leadership, calling the situation a 'dereliction of duty’. She stated that flood assets were in their worst recorded condition, putting lives, businesses, and homes at risk. In response, the Government has approved 31 new projects and allocated £36 million for urgent repairs to defences damaged by extreme weather. With climate change increasing flood risks, the Government is also considering reforms to the 'flood formula, ' which determines funding based on property protection. The aim is to prioritise natural flood management alongside traditional defences. Critics, however, question the origins of this new funding and whether it repackages previous Conservative investments. As severe weather events become more frequent, long-term flood prevention remains a pressing issue.