The government has made economic growth its number one priority with investment in the UK at the heart of this mission. We support this. We need more homes, better transport systems and secure energy infrastructure. But if we don’t focus equally on investment in our flood defence infrastructure, the resilience of our homes and businesses to increasing severe weather events will be a grave concern. The government has a unique opportunity right now to prevent this by committing to a long-term sustained package of flood defence infrastructure in the Spending Review.
In 2023 the National Infrastructure Commission called for a rolling programme of £1.5 billion for investment in flood defence infrastructure. With the degradation of current flood defence assets, it’s likely that greater levels of investment will be required.
We recognise the pressures on the public finances, but research shows that investment in flood schemes provides excellent value for money.
Public First found that for every £1 spent on flood defence maintenance, £8 can be saved in capital spending. £3 of that is a direct saving to the government because more than a third of the damage is to publicly owned infrastructure like roads, railways, schools and hospitals.
Recent research from Fathom has also demonstrated that flood defences can save households £1.15 billion by mitigating and protecting communities from damage each year. The benefits of flood defences can be seen with the Leeds Alleviation Scheme, where new defences now protect over 4,000 homes and 1,000 businesses. Leeds City Council estimates that the scheme has enabled £774 billion in economic growth to the city and region’s economy.
The government’s £1.3 billion commitment to March 2026 was welcome but still less than the £1.5 billion per year recommended by the National Infrastructure Commission. In March the government also announced that over 1,000 flood schemes will be built or repaired to protect thousands of homes from the dangers of flooding. This is welcome but ensuring a sustained, long-term investment commitment is essential to give local communities confidence these schemes will be delivered longer term and beyond the current spending commitment to March 2026.
The insurance industry is playing its part in protecting homes and increasing resilience. After seven consecutive quarters where claims topped £100 million, between January and April this year insurers paid out a record £226 million for weather related damage to people’s homes and possessions. These record payouts follow significant and consistent bad weather, including 12 named storms over winter 2023/24, and Storm Eowyn which hit in January this year – the UK’s most powerful windstorm for over a decade. Insurers are prepared for these sorts of events at any time but as we face ever more extreme weather across the UK, and the increased pressure from surface water flooding, there must be a greater focus on prevention and adapting to climate change.
The world-leading Flood Re scheme and its Build Back Better policy support customers to introduce resilience measures into their homes to reduce the impact of flooding in the future. Action from industry to increase resilience should be matched by a long-term commitment for investment in flood defences from government. The 10-year infrastructure strategy is the perfect place to make this strong commitment from government, providing confidence to industry and families on future resilience and protection from flooding.
The Climate Change Committee’s latest report delivers a stark warning that extreme weather is increasingly causing harm across the UK. Taking proactive steps to prevent flooding and increase resilience are now essential. Investment in resilience must also be underpinned by a robust planning system that ensures the delivery of high-quality homes, built in the right areas and with in-built climate readiness. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, is an opportunity for the government to deliver on its commitment to climate resilience and implement mandatory installation of sustainable drainage systems in new developments, with greater transparency for industry and homeowners on the resilience and prevention measures in place against flooding. There is a real opportunity to deliver the government’s target of building 1.5 million new homes, but in a way that makes sure they are both energy efficient and climate ready.
The UK has exceptional experience and expertise in climate adaptation. We urge the government to seize the opportunity at the Spending Review and Infrastructure Strategy to commit to increased investment, secure our economic growth and protect homes and businesses for the future.