Currently around 5.2 million properties in England, or one in six properties, are at risk of flooding. More than five million people live and work in the 2.4 million properties that are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea, one million of which are also at risk of surface water flooding. A further 2.8 million properties are susceptible to surface water flooding alone.

Achievements in the last three years outlined in the Report include:

• Every pound spent on improvements to flood and coastal defences delivered at least eight pounds of benefit in the long term through reduced damage;
• 182,000 households benefited from improved protection from flooding and coastal erosion, including approximately 62,000 in high risk areas;
• Works begun (and in many cases completed) to restore 34,000 hectares of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs);
• 57 per cent (1.05 million) of households and businesses in the highest risk areas are now registered with Floodline Warnings Direct, up from 14 per cent (225,000) in 2008;
• Approximately 98 per cent of planning decisions in flood risk areas were either amended in line with Agency advice to address flood risk, or withdrawn;
• 87 long-term flood and coastal risk management plans are complete.

 According to the Report, since April 2008 over £1 billion has been invested on flood defence improvements and repairs, as well as related programmes such as flood warning infrastructure and environmental enhancements, with more than 300 flood defence schemes have been completed since 2008.

One of the the targets set by Defra for the Environment Agency to achieve was the delivery of capital expenditure benefits of at least five times the cost of the programme. The Report says that for every pound the Agency has invested over this period, there will be at least £8 of benefit in the long term by avoiding damages caused by flooding and coastal erosion.

In the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 the Agency’s expenditure on flood and coastal erosion risk management was £1,899 million, including Defra funding and other income.

The main elements of expenditure were £1,042 million on the capital programme, including local authority and internal drainage board schemes, and £857 million on operating activities including maintenance and flood warnings. The Agency also managed over £100 million of local levy schemes agreed by regional flood defence committees for local priorities.

To read Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Progress Report 2008-2011 for England in full click here