North East Bedfordshire has received £485,000 in investment since 2015 to help protect against flooding and coastal erosion as part of the Government’s investment of £2.6 billion over six years for improving flood and coastal defences. The flood defences targeted towards the areas that need them most have saved the economy more than £28 billion in damages to homes and businesses in communities across the country.
The £2.6 billion six-year programme of work dedicated to improving flood and coastal defences has exceeded its original targets – with over 314,000 homes now better protected from flooding. Homes and businesses in North East Bedfordshire are better protected from flooding and coastal erosion now that the Government has exceeded its target to boost flood protection by 2026– 27.
More than 850 new flood and coastal erosion defence projects have already been completed. Over 580,000 acres of agricultural land, as well as thousands of businesses, communities and major infrastructure have been protected – including more than 8,000 kilometres of roads.
The Government’s funding prioritised areas where flood defences were needed the most, supporting communities at high risk of flooding. New flood schemes in the most deprived parts of the country have also qualified for funding at 2.25 times the rate of other areas.
According to estimates, the programme has saved the economy more than £28 billion in damages to homes and businesses through the extra protection provided to communities across the country.
Commenting, Richard Fuller MP said:
Flooding can devastate communities, including here in North East Bedfordshire, and so we must put in place protections to protect our homes and livelihoods from the impact of extreme weather.
That is why I welcome the £485,000 invested already by the Government to protect homes and businesses in North East Bedfordshire with flood alleviation schemes – helping to protect homes from flooding.
The Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan outlines how a record £5.2 billion of investment over the next six years will be spent, including more than £860 million in 2021–22 on boosting the design and construction of more than 1,000 flooding alleviation schemes.
