From Hull to Bath and Wolverhampton to the Wirral, communities up and down England are set to benefit from a government cash boost that will protect thousands of homes from flooding, reports the Environment Agency.
Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey yesterday (Tuesday, 27 March) announced that 25 new schemes will receive a share of £36 million announced in the Autumn Statement to improve flood protection.
One of the biggest beneficiaries is Hull, where £12 million will improve the defenses along the River Hull to protect homes, businesses, infrastructure and areas of cultural importance within the city. The funding will support the second phase of the project which started in 2016 and has so far seen 39 sections of defense improved over a 7.5km stretch of river.
The main pier at Seahouses, Berwick-upon-Tweed, protecting 140 properties and the town’s picturesque harbor, will be regenerated thanks to an extra £2.9 million.
Rivers will be restored and habitat improved in Gloucester, where £1.2 million will go to projects to protect 370 properties along the Sud Brook and River Twyer.
In Derby, more than £300,000 will help create new wetlands and flood reservoirs to not only protect 110 homes from flooding but also enhance biodiversity in residential areas.
In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced £76 million to be spent on flood and coastal defenses – £36 million for new schemes and £40 million to boost local regeneration in deprived communities at high flood risk.
This brings the total investment in flood protection to £2.6 billion by 2021, when more than 1,500 flood defenses will have been built to protect 300,000 homes up and down the country. Over the past two years, the Environment Agency has completed more than 350 new flood schemes to protect 100,000 homes.