Record £2.65billion repairs for creaking flood defences

MINISTERS have announced a record £2.65billion to build and maintain flood defences over the next two years to protect thousands of homes.

- Emily Beament

The Environment Department said the investment would result in 52,000 properties benefitting from new protection by March 2026, while efforts to shore up "creaking" barriers would help safeguard 14,500 further homes and businesses.

The pledge comes after funding reached just over £1billion a year over the past few years and as the UK faces more extreme weather driven by climate change, including storms, heavy rainfall and floods.

Damaging winter storms in the past two years have caused widespread flooding of properties, roads, railways and farmland.