A major new report has warned that flood defence spending in the UK is set to drop sharply next year. It urges the government to commit at least £1.5bn annually to safeguard communities, infrastructure, and the economy from increasing flood risks.
Flooding already affects nearly 2 million people across the UK—a population equivalent to Birmingham, Sheffield, and Newcastle combined. Additionally, a third of England’s critical infrastructure—including roads, railways, energy grids, and water systems—is vulnerable, posing a significant threat to national security.
The direct economic cost of flooding—including damage to homes, businesses, and transport networks—stands at £2.4bn annually. However, the long-term economic toll is far greater, with each year of significant flooding causing a decade-long financial strain worth at least £6.1bn, according to the report by Public First.
Currently, the UK spends £1.3bn on flood defences, which falls short of the £1.5bn annual investment recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission. With no clear commitment beyond next year, concerns are mounting over the affordability and sustainability of future flood resilience measures.
Emma Howard Boyd, former Chair of the Environment Agency and a key author of the report stressed the urgency for increased investment. “Given the condition of existing flood risk management assets has degraded further, it is likely that more than £1.5bn a year is required to increase flood resilience in England sufficiently.”
With climate change intensifying extreme weather events, experts warn that failing to act now will lead to devastating economic, environmental, and human costs in the years ahead. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Joe Giddens/PA