Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government is bringing forward more than 13 million of the six-year flood defence programme announced in December to better protect more than 1,700 homes from flooding sooner than planned in the East Midlands.
4 brand new schemes have been given the green light as part of the long-term investment programme and work will start on another 21 flood defence projects earlier than previously announced.
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:
What todays announcement means is greater peace of mind for thousands of people who are at risk from flooding across the East Midlands.
Work will begin on 21 flood defence projects sooner than originally planned. This is another example of infrastructure funded by the UK Government as part of our long-term economic plan.
Key projects across the East Midlands include:
- A scheme at Cocker Beck in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire has been brought forward by five years and will protect around 280 homes from flooding.
- The development of a scheme at Brackley has been brought forward by four years.
The government is bringing forward more than 140 million of the 2.3 billion six-year flood defence programme announced in December to better protect more than 31,000 homes and businesses from flooding sooner than planned.
47 brand new schemes have been given the green light as part of the long-term investment programme and work will start on another 165 flood defence projects earlier than previously announced.
The 6 year programme represents a real terms increase in expenditure and will reduce flood risk across the country by 5%.
230,000 homes have been better protected from the risk of flooding and coastal erosion so far this Parliament.
Environment Agency Chairman Sir Philip Dilley said:
This programme of more than 1,500 flood risk management schemes will significantly reduce flood risk to more than 300,000 properties in England by 2021, benefiting people, the economy and the environment. Government funding has also been brought forward meaning that over 30,000 properties will benefit from reduced flood risk earlier than originally planned.
Our priority is to do as much as we can with every pound of funding from government and local partners, but of course the risk of flooding can never be entirely eliminated. With one in six homes in England at risk of flooding, I encourage people to check their flood risk and sign up to the Environment Agencys free flood warning service.
Notes to Editors
Please visit here for more information on the schemes.
Picture caption:
The flood wall at Trent Meadows, part of Nottingham Left Bank scheme, the largest inland flood defence scheme ever built. Completed in 2012 and costing 45 million to build, it protects 16,000 homes and businesses along 27 kilometres of the River Trent from Sawley to Colwick.