THE ENVIRONMENT Agency has announced that nearly £100 million in investment has been set to fund flood protection across the South East.
The funding will support flood defence schemes across the region in 2026/27, aiming to help protect homes and businesses across the South East from the growing threat of flooding and coastal erosion.
More than 600 projects are set to be supported, including the Maidenhead Windsor and Eton Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Other projects include improved flood barriers and embankments to natural flood management schemes that slow the flow of water before it reaches communities and coastal flood defence projects.
Over its lifetime, the scheme will save over £1.6 billion by reducing flood damage and disruption helping shield communities from the kind of extreme weather that has battered parts of the country in recent winters.
It is part of a £1.4 billion investment in flood defences in 2026/27 in England and sits within the largest flood resilience programme in England’s history, with at least £10.5 billion being invested between 2024 and 2036 to strengthen the nation’s defences against flooding and coastal erosion.
Alongside investment in new schemes, £250 million has also been made available nationally to repair and maintain flood defences damaged by Storms Goretti and Chandra, ensuring existing protections remain strong when communities need them most.
Reading is among the places which has seen detrimental effects from flooding amid unprecedented rain as recently as last month.
Caversham and Winnersh are among the hardest and most often hit, with the River Thames and River Loddon, respectively, causing flood risks to homes and businesses.
It’s even led to suggestions from some councillors last year that beavers could be introduced to the wetlands around Reading, as the dams they make can help slow water flow, theoretically reducing the risk of sudden floods.
Anna Burns, Environment Agency Area Director for Thames Area, said: “This investment allows the Environment Agency and our partners to deliver flood schemes across South of England, protecting thousands of homes and businesses from flooding.
“Working with local councils and partners, we’re delivering a wide range of projects, from traditional flood defences to natural flood management, to protect communities better now and into the future.”
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said: “Flooding can turn lives upside down in a matter of hours, destroying homes, shutting down businesses and leaving communities facing months of heartbreak and recovery.
“That’s why we’re investing £99 million here in the South East as part of a record national programme to strengthen flood defences, protect families and businesses, and help communities feel safer in the face of increasingly extreme weather.
“This investment will help protect more than 8,000 properties and business across the region, while supporting jobs, growth and local resilience.”
Full details of the investment, including an exhaustive list of schemes and initiatives which will be funded, is available via: gov.uk
