£65m funding boost for flood defence schemes

Almost 100 flood defence schemes in Yorkshire & the Humber will share £65m to protect homes and businesses, the Environment Agency (EA) has announced.

The investment covers the period from April 2026 to March 2029 and includes funding for areas badly hit in recent years including Bentley, Hebden Bridge and Whiston.

The Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme in West Yorkshire, which aims to reduce the risk of flooding at more than 400 properties, will receive £2.4m.

Overall, £1.4bn of investment in flood defences in England has been announced with the government confirming at least £10.5bn would be invested between 2024 and 2036 to "protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure".

More than 600 schemes across England will receive funding as part of the investment.

The EA said £260m had been earmarked for managing, maintaining and repairing assets, following damage caused by Storms Goretti and Chandra, including at Eskamhorn (Ings Clough) Pumping Station in Selby and South Bramwith in Doncaster.

Other notable investment will see £2.16m for the next phase of the Sheffield Upper Don Flood Alleviation Scheme in Penistone and Stocksbridge, and £1.2m for the Hebden Bridge Flood Alleviation Scheme in West Yorkshire.

Hebden Bridge has endured six major floods since 2000 including on Boxing Day in 2015 as a result of Storm Eva.

Whiston Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme will also receive £2m after the village saw significant flooding in October 2023 due to heavy rainfall.

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.

"This £1.4bn investment will help protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the country and strengthen the defences families rely on when the worst happens."

Lyn Peart, Environment Agency Area Director for Yorkshire & the Humber, said: "This investment allows the Environment Agency and our partners to deliver 94 flood schemes across Yorkshire & the Humber, 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."

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