The Environment Agency has published its annual report on flood and coastal erosion risk management work carried out by risk management authorities in England.
Introducing the report, the Agency said December 2015 had brought successive storms, record level rainfall and river levels, all leading to widespread flooding across the North of England with 17,000 homes and businesses hit by floods.
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The report says flood risk assets protected around 12,500 properties during floods in early December and about 10,900 over the Christmas period. Without them, the damage to lives and livelihoods would have been very much worse.
The Agency said this is why efforts have continued since then throughout the year to deliver the planned programme of new flood schemes.
The Environment Agency, local councils and internal drainage boards completed 173 schemes during the year, reducing flood risk to almost 49,000 homes and coastal erosion risk to over 5,500 homes. The work is all part of the 6 year investment programme which will reduce flood and coastal erosion risk to 300,000 homes by March 2021.
The report says it was also a good year for improving the environment through flood and coastal erosion risk management work, with 693 hectares of habitat having been created or improved.
Part of the government’s response to the flooding was the announcement of a £75 million fund for the restoration and repair of flood defences. This included £10 million to repair the Foss Barrier, which was damaged during the storms.
2015 to 2016 also saw the publication of flood risk management plans. These, along with updated river basin management plans, sit along shoreline management plans.
Together they are intended to set the direction for flood and coastal risk management helping to secure a long-term integrated planning approach and partnerships.
The Agency said the government and risk management authorities are together reviewing the lessons learnt from 2015 to 2016 and building them into the future of flood risk management.
Click here to download the report in full.
Waterbriefing is media partner with the Environment Agency’s major three-day conference and exhibition Flood and Coast 2017 which takes place from 28 to 30 March 2017 in Telford. Click here for more information
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