£1.4bn flood investment unleashed to protect homes and businesses

The UK government has unveiled a significant funding programme aimed at enhancing flood resilience for tens of thousands of homes and businesses across England.

The commitment, delivered by the Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, includes £1.4 billion in flood defence investment for the period 2026 to 2027, with £830 million ringfenced specifically for new and upgraded flood schemes. This initiative forms part of an extensive, long-term strategy to deliver at least £10.5 billion of investment in flood infrastructure between 2024 and 2036.

More than 600 projects will be implemented nationwide, ranging from the construction of advanced flood barriers and strengthened embankments to the deployment of nature-based flood management systems, such as tree planting, saltmarsh restoration, and the installation of leaky barriers. Notably, the integration of both engineering and natural solutions reflects the government’s dual ambition to deliver robust flood defences while generating ecological and societal benefits.

Among the flagship projects are the £100 million coastal defence scheme on the south coast between Pevensey Bay and Eastbourne, protecting over 3,100 homes, and the ongoing Our City Our River programme in Derby, which will eventually shield approximately 1,500 homes and 700 businesses along the River Derwent. In Lancashire, the Preston and South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme is set to receive £15.2 million, expected to protect around 5,000 homes. The funding allocation also includes £260 million dedicated to the repair and maintenance of existing flood assets, addressing damage from recent severe weather events and reversing more than a decade of decline in flood asset condition.

These measures will not only safeguard communities from the escalating risks posed by climate change and increasingly volatile weather but also support the creation of thousands of skilled jobs across engineering, construction, and environmental management. The programme is expected to generate substantial opportunities for suppliers, subcontractors, and consultants specialising in civil engineering, hydraulic infrastructure, materials supply, landscape restoration, and advanced monitoring technologies.

Stakeholders in the construction and environmental sectors can anticipate significant tenders, partnerships, and framework agreements as the Environment Agency, in concert with local authorities and risk management bodies, manages the roll-out of this record investment. The overarching objective is to protect 840,000 properties by 2036, underscoring the government’s commitment to infrastructure resilience and the economic security of both established businesses and new market entrants across the UK construction supply chain.