The Environment Agency’s budget shortfalls have led to a deterioration of flood defences, putting over 200,000 homes in England at risk of flooding, according to a report by the public accounts committee. The agency has failed to meet its target of maintaining 98% of “high consequence” flood defences, and as a result, the number of properties it aims to protect by 2027 has been downgraded from 336,000 to 200,000.
The MPs have also highlighted that new houses are being built on floodplains without proper checks being carried out to ensure suitable flood defences are in place. This failure is considered “unforgivable” by the committee. The report warns that the number of properties at risk of flooding is expected to increase due to climate breakdown bringing more intense downpours.
The UK has already seen devastating flooding earlier this month, which damaged nearly 2,000 properties. The committee’s deputy chair, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, emphasized that robust flood resilience is essential, saying that “the depredations caused by such disasters are a matter of life and death for communities up and down the country.”
Budget Shortfalls Undermine Flood Defences in EnglandThe report criticizes the government for not having a numerical target in place to measure progress on flood protection, making it difficult to quantify how much progress is being made. It also recommends that the government set a measure that takes into account not only new constructions but also the number of properties with poor defences. Additionally, the committee suggests that smaller projects should have an easier time getting approval so that rural villages have the same level of protection as other areas.
According to the report, the government should prioritize flood resilience and consider the net number of properties at risk. The Liberal Democrats have also emphasized the need for better flood protection plans, highlighting that communities like theirs in Shropshire have faced repeated inundation with little support.