Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The government is bringing forward more than 25 million of the six-year flood defence programme announced in December to better protect more than 4,800 homes from flooding sooner than planned in Yorkshire.
10 brand new schemes have been given the green light as part of the long-term investment programme and work will start on another 11 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 Yorkshire.
Work will begin on 11 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 Yorkshire include:
- New work as part of the flood risk management scheme at Holgate Beck, York will now start to be developed to ensure that 1,400 homes are better protected from flooding.
- Development of the first phase of improved sea defences between Immingham and Freshney have been brought forward by two years and will benefit 2,300 households.
- The flood defence scheme at Great Ayton, which will see more than 90 homes better protected, will now begin development work three years earlier than originally planned.
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 further information on the schemes.
Picture caption:
Construction of a flood wall as part of Phase 3 of the Todmorden flood alleviation scheme in Yorkshire, which was completed in 2013 at a total cost of around 13 million.