UK sets out flood spending

The U.K.’s Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, has announced that £34.5m of the £2.15bn total government flood and coastal erosion spend over the next three years will be allocated to implement the recommendations from Sir Michael Pitt’s report on the summer floods.

Benn also announced that the Environment Agency will receive £1.8bn of this funding over the same period, 2008/09 to 2010/11.

The Agency will be responsible for allocating this funding across all Operating Authorities (which includes local authorities, Internal Drainage Boards and the Agency itself). It will also oversee the programme of works to deliver a range of tougher targets for new and improved defences and projects. These will help to ensure that more households and important wildlife sites are protected from the risks of flooding.

“Over £2.15bn is planned to be invested by Government and local authorities in flood and coastal erosion management over the three years spending review period.

Of the total £1.8bn, the Environment Agency will use £788m to fund the operating costs of its flood risk management service, which includes the routine maintenance of defences and the flood warning service, over the same three year period.

Over £2.15bn is planned to be invested by Government and local authorities in flood and coastal erosion management over the three years spending review period.

As outlined in the Comprehensive Spending Review last October, spending will rise from its current level of £600m, to £650m in 2008-09, £700m in 2009-10 and £800 million in 2010-11.