The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,has launched a new consultation on proposals to accelerate the construction of flood schemes and protect thousands of homes and businesses in cities and rural areas from the risks of flooding.

The government is consulting on a new approach to funding flood and coastal erosion projects, specifically how it can simplify the approach, speed up delivery, and respond to the changing nature of risk. The new approach will be launched in time for the start of the new flood investment programme in April 2026.

The proposals will make it easier for authorities, including councils, to bid for central government funding. This will benefit poorer councils who have less resource to commit to the application process.

This consultation is asking for feedback on two main proposals:

• a  proposed simplified approach to funding new flood resilience projects
• a proposed approach to prioritise flood resilience projects

The consultation also includes a call for evidence on two wider floods investment areas - seeking views on how alternative sources of funding can effectively be found for flood and coastal erosion projects to achieve better outcomes for more stakeholders and opportunities for English devolution to support flood risk management in England. These are longer-term considerations and will not come into effect alongside the funding reforms.

Speaking at the first day of the Flood & Coast Conference in Telford, Water and Floods Minister Emma Hardy outlined fresh proposals to replace the existing system and introduce a simple, flexible and strategic approach to investment in flood resilience projects.

Emma Hardy said:

“Councils have struggled for years with securing money for flood defences due to a complex and archaic application process. Dealing with the impacts of flooding gets in the way of growth for businesses and can be devastating for hard-working families.

“That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, this Government is reforming how flood funds are distributed to protect businesses, rural and coastal communities as we invest over £2.65 billion in flood defences across the country.”

The proposals are intended to replace the current complex and labour-intensive process of applying for funding, which disproportionately affects councils with less resources, with a simpler, transparent approach. Established more than a decade ago under the previous government, the existing outdated formula for distributing money to proposed flood defences is complicated, slows down applications and neglects more innovative approaches such as natural flood management.

They will also ensure money is distributed more effectively across the country – including for rural and coastal communities.

Faster application process will help speed up delivery of vital schemes

A faster application process will help speed up delivery of vital schemes – crucial to boosting the country’s preparedness for extreme weather events.

The government will fully fund the first £3 million of proposed flood and coastal erosion projects, giving a crucial boost to schemes. For remaining costs above this, schemes would only need to secure 10% of the remaining costs from other sources, such as private investment and the government would cover the rest.

This approach would mean more schemes will see their funding gaps filled and stop local communities needing to secure more funding themselves.

The consultation is also seeking views on how projects are prioritised each year for delivery – for example, value for money and whether certain outcomes should be bolstered, such as flood resilience in deprived communities or the level of private funding raised.

Environment Agency Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Caroline Douglass commented:

“Better protecting communities in England from the devastating impacts of flooding is one of our top priorities as climate change brings more extreme weather.

“We support the government’s bold strategic vision to transform the approach to investment in resilience to flood and coastal erosion, helping to streamline the delivery of flood schemes and improve existing assets to protect communities better.”

The consultation also outlines plans to mainstream investment in natural flood management, which uses nature to reduce the risk of flooding, while also providing wider benefits such as improved water quality, vital habitats for wildlife and increased access to nature.

It also considers how communities can make better use of property flood resilience measures, such as flood doors or smart air bricks. These items help prevent water from entering a property or reduce the amount of floodwater that enters during significant flooding.

Currently 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are at risk from flooding. With climate change, the total number of properties at risk from flooding could increase to 8 million by the middle of the century – or around one in four properties. Around 3,500 properties are at risk of being lost to coastal erosion by 2055.

Deadline to respond to the consultation is 3^rd July 2025 – click here to access the consultation online