Thousands of flood defenses in England, designed to protect homes from severe flooding, are deteriorating, just as meteorologists predict a wetter autumn than usual.
Official figures reveal that the proportion of flood defenses deemed “adequate” has dropped to 92.6%, down from 97.9% in 2018-19, according to a leak from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency.
Experts warn that this decline leaves more properties vulnerable, with every 1% decrease putting an additional 10,000 homes at risk.
Forecasts from the Met Office signal a likely increase in rainfall, with waterlogged grounds and swollen rivers expected to worsen the flood situation in the coming months.
Increased rainfall forecast threatens vulnerable homes amid worsening flood defenses and extreme weather predictions.September has already seen 100% of its typical rainfall, and October is projected to follow suit, raising concerns about the capacity of England’s flood defenses.
In response, the government has ramped up its flood resilience efforts. Environment Secretary Steve Reed convened a meeting to discuss bolstering flood preparations and ensuring a coordinated response between government bodies, local authorities, and emergency services.
The Labour government focuses on accelerating flood defense developments and improving the nation’s preparedness for extreme weather.
The Environment Agency has increased inspections of flood defense assets, conducting 216,000 checks to assess any damage caused by recent storms.
While the agency has boosted spending on repairs to £236m, the disrepair of current defenses highlights a growing vulnerability as the UK faces more frequent extreme weather events due to climate change.