The Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey has stated that £36 million will be given to communities across England to help make improvements to flood protection, after promises in the Autumn statement to improve flood defences.
The aim is that the environment will be enhanced, thousands of homes will be protected from flooding and economic growth and tourism will be bolstered.
The areas of priority have been chosen by the Government and the Environment Agency to protect an additional 3,000 properties from flooding in addition to places that will have wider benefits for the community.
140 properties and the town's harbour will be regenerated at Seahouses, Berwick-upon-Tweed, with £2.9 million provided by the Government.
A project in Hull that was started in 2016 will be continued, protecting homes, businesses and the city's areas of cultural importance through improving flood defences. £12 million is being provided to support the second phase of this project.
Gloucester will see rivers restored and habitats improved through their £1.2 million project to protect 370 properties.
Derby will receive over £300,000 to create new wetlands and flood reservoirs to protect homes from flooding and enhance biodiversity.
Thérèse Coffey commented:
"Not only will this investment make places more resilient against flooding, but it will help the local economy, enhance the natural environment and protect important areas of culture – whether it is the homes, businesses and cultural sites in Hull to the pier in Seahouses or the natural environment in Gloucester."
By 2021, Government investment in flood defences will have totalled £2.6 billion. The Environment Agency will also have completed more than 350 new flood schemes to protect homes up and down the country.
