Flood defences for thousands of homes to be bolstered after devastating storms

The Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said a 'record' £2.65bilion bundle volition spot 52,000 properties payment from caller defences implicit the adjacent 2 years

Flood defences volition beryllium bolstered to support thousands of homes implicit the adjacent 2 years, ministers person announced.

The Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said a "record" £2.65bilion bundle volition spot 52,000 properties payment from caller defences.There volition besides beryllium efforts to enactment up "creaking" defences successful 14,500 further homes and businesses crossed the country.

It follows a bid of storms - including Darragh and Eowyn - that "have devastated lives and livelihood," Environment Secretary Steve Reed said.

He added: "The relation of immoderate authorities is to support its citizens. We are investing a grounds £2.65 cardinal to physique and support flood defences to support lives, homes and businesses from the dangers of flooding.”

Labour has blamed the Tories for letting defences autumn into disrepair during the party's 14-year spell successful government.

They pointed to figures from past twelvemonth showing the Conservatives acceptable speech £5.2billion connected bolstering flood defences - but conscionable £1.5billion had been utilized by March 2024.

A Labour root told The Mirror : “Yet again the Conservatives were each speech and nary action. Failing to walk implicit 2 thirds of the wealth pledged for flood defences was a dereliction of work and severely fto flood-hit communities down.

“If Kemi Badenoch wants to pb by illustration and accidental atrocious to the British nationalist for the mistakes the Conservatives made, volition she marque Robbie Moore apologise for this?”

Environment Agency president Alan Lovell said: "The interaction of flooding connected our communities volition lone go greater arsenic clime alteration brings much utmost weather, similar Storms Bert, Conall and Eowyn.

"With this caller funding, we volition enactment intimately with the authorities to present the captious projects that are needed crossed the country, ensuring our concern goes to those communities who request it the most."