The Government has today published its long-term plan to tackle the risks of flooding and coastal erosion in England and announced a £5.2 billion capital funding programme for 2021-2027.

The measures set out in the new plan including investment of £5.2 billion to create around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences to better protect 336,000 properties in England by 2027, alongside support to help households and businesses get back on their feet more quickly after flooding.

The plans also include £200 million for innovative projects such as sustainable drainage systems and nature-based solutions like temporary or permanent water storage areas which also boost wildlife. These will support 25 areas at risk of flooding to test and demonstrate innovative actions to adapt to a changing climate and improve their resilience.

In addition, up to £170 million will be spent to accelerate construction of shovel-ready flood defence schemes in 22 areas across the country that will begin construction in 2020 or 2021.

The long-term plan sets out five key commitments – supported by over 40 clear actions – aimed at accelerating progress to better protect and better prepare the country for the coming years:

• Upgrading and expanding flood defences and infrastructure across the country;
• Managing the flow of water to both reduce flood risk and manage drought;
• Harnessing the power of nature to not only reduce flood risk, but deliver benefits for the environment, nature, and communities;
• Better preparing communities for when flooding and erosion does occur; and
• Ensuring every area of England has a comprehensive local plan for dealing with flooding and coastal erosion.

The Government said the plan will see the delivery of flood and coastal defences to prevent £32 billion in economic damage, the creation of areas to store water during flooding and greater use of nature based solutions to reduce flood risk.

The plan also sets out proposed changes to the joint government and insurance industry Flood Re scheme. This will allow claims to include an additional amount so that flood resilience measures are included in repairs, and allow households that have property flood resilience measures in place to benefit from lower premiums.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the long-term plan would help push back the flood waters and protect hundreds of thousands of homes, businesses and livelihoods, adding that the record investment would also stimulate economic growth across the UK as "we build back better."

Andy Bord, Chief Executive of Flood Re, said:

"Flood Re enables access to affordable insurance for hundreds of thousands of homes at high risk of flooding. We believe it is very important that the country is built back better and making homes more resilient through the uptake of property flood resilience adaptations is a key part of addressing the increasing threat of flooding resulting from climate change."

The plan is intended to be a comprehensive, cross-government commitment to increase national resilience to flooding and coastal erosion, including proposals to change regulations and unlock more investment from government and others.

The announcements come ahead of the publication of the Environment Agency’s long-term Flood and Coast Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England, which will be published later today and sets out how the Environment Agency will work with communities to deliver the government’s plan.

The £5.2 billion capital funding programme runs from 2021-2027 - other aspects of the plan will continue further into the future.

The Government will also consider expanding local authority powers to ensure they can secure additional funding for flood schemes, and review local government funding for statutory functions to ensure that it matches the needs of communities.

The plan applies to England - responsibility for flood and coastal erosion risk management is devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Flood Re insurance scheme applies to the whole of the UK.

Key commitments and actions in the plan include:

• Upgrading and expanding flood defences and infrastructure across the country
• Building 2,000 new flood and coastal defence schemes by 2027, providing better protection to 336,000 properties including 46,000 key sites (schools ,hospitals etc)
• Ensuring that existing flood defences are well-maintained and climate resilient
• Managing the flow of water to both reduce flood risk and manage drought via an integrated approach e.g. storing water upstream to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall, then capturing it for use during dry weather.
• Planting trees, restoring peatland and wetlands, and properly managing soil – which can all contribute to reducing flood risk
• £200 million innovative resilience programme
• Review of policy for building in areas at flood risk, ensuring future developments are safe from floods.
• Ensuring every area of England has a comprehensive local plan for dealing with flooding and coastal erosion.

In Leeds, the government will provide up to £21 million to for the Leeds Phase 2 Flood Alleviation Scheme which will protect more than 370 businesses and 3.300 jobs, and enable the development of land for the creation of homes and jobs. The funding is subject to a satisfactory business case approved by Defra and HMT. Government will also provide £1,320,000 for the Leeds Natural Flood Management Scheme.