6,000 more homes in the North West will be better protected from flooding in 2013/14

Flooding

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Over 6,000 homes in the North West will be better protected from the devastating effects of flooding, Defra and the Environment Agency have confirmed today, after nearly £32million was set aside to construct and maintain flood defences in the region in 2013/14.

The funding is made up of £16.6m for Environment Agency projects, £11.5m for local authority schemes and a further £3.6m from the North West Flood and Coastal Committee’s levy on local authorities.

This year’s funding also includes a special growth fund that will be spent on flood defence schemes that deliver regeneration and economic growth in addition to managing flood risk. The North West is set to be the big winner from this one-off funding boost – announced by the Treasury in last year’s autumn statement – after the region secured a quarter of the £120million that was made available nationally, and which will be spent in the region over the next two years.

Northwich Town Centre will receive a £2.2m share of the fund towards a £4.6million flood defence scheme that will reduce the risk of flooding to around 700 homes and businesses and generate up to 1,500 permanent jobs in the town and a potential £60 million of Gross Value Added (GVA) into the economy. The rest of the funding has been secured through partner contributions, including £500,000 from Chester and Cheshire West Council.

Salford also benefits from the funding boost, securing £5.3million towards a £16million scheme that will provide increased protection to nearly 2,000 properties. Salford City Council will contribute £2million towards the scheme and the rest will come from standard Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) funding between now and 2016.

Anchorsholme and Rossall in Lancashire are set to receive nearly £22million from the acceleration fund towards major new sea defences that will reduce the risk of flooding to over 13,000 homes and businesses, major highway and tramway infrastructure, a major sewerage pumping station and public utilities. A total scheme cost of around £100million makes it one of the largest flood defence schemes in the UK.

Croston in Lancashire will receive £1.5 million from the fund to construct defences that will reduce the risk of flooding to over 459 local homes and businesses. Crossens near Southport and Marton Mere in Lancashire have secured funding to refurbish existing pumping stations, that help maintain flood protection to homes and businesses in those communities.

The news was welcomed by Derek Antrobus, chair of the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, who approved the indicative programme of funding in their January meeting.

He said: “Our success in securing this funding is down to the excellent co-operation in the North West between the Environment Agency and local authorities.

“No matter where in the region, no matter what their politics, local councils have worked with the Environment Agency to make sure we get the best deal for communities at risk in the North West.

But he warned: “Despite our investment there will always be properties at risk and there is always a risk that major flood events will overtop defences. It is still really important for people to sign up to flood warnings and take action to prepare for flooding.”

Sally Sudworth, the Environment Agency’s Flood Executive for the North West, added: “The funding announced today will bring huge relief to thousands of families and business owners at risk of flooding in the North West.

“The weather we have experienced this summer highlights the growing importance of flood risk management both to local communities and the local economy. Only by working closely with local authorities and partners can we secure the funding we need to make a real difference, and I am pleased to say that this is something we do extremely well in the region.

“As well as building flood defences, we also work hard to identify flood risk, issue flood alerts and warnings and provide people with the information they need to stay safe. We would urge everyone to check their flood risk using our online flood map, and check our website for information about preparing for flooding.”

Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency, said: “Our priority is to do as much as we can with every pound of funding and the new partnership funding approach is bringing in new money for flood defences that would have not otherwise been built. We now expect to significantly exceed our goal to better protect 145,000 properties in the UK by 2015.

“With one in six homes in England at risk of flooding, we would also encourage people to take their own steps to prepare for flooding, for example by signing up to the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service.”

As well as the flood schemes that will progress as result of this year’s funding, the allocation for 2013/14 also covers maintenance of existing defences. The Environment Agency has also committed to increasing the number of people receiving free flood warnings to over 1.1 million households in the UK by 2015.