Homes and businesses in the Chichester Constituency are better protected from flooding and coastal erosion now that the Government has exceeded its target to boost flood protection by 2026– 27.
Investment in flood defences has been spread across every region of England, with Chichester securing £3,529,000 investment since 2015. Funding uplifts have been pushed for and supported by, local MP, Gillian Keegan. Throughout her career, the MP has raised her concerns around coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and flooding both publicly in House of Commons debates, and in correspondence to the Environment Agency, Defra Ministers and the Local Authority.
Locally, significant erosion, and flood management schemes are ongoing right along our coastline, where a mixture of coastal realignment (Medmerry and Thorney Island) and Adaptive Management (East Head) and more traditional mixed defences at Selsey to the Witterings. Nationally, the £2.6 billion six-year programme of work dedicated to improving flood and coastal defences has exceeded its original targets – with over 314,000 homes now better protected from flooding.
The Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan outlines how a record £5.2 billion of investment over the next six years will be spent, including more than £860 million in 2021–22 on boosting the design and construction of more than 1,000 flooding alleviation schemes. More than 850 new flood and coastal erosion defence projects have already been completed. Over 580,000 acres of agricultural land, as well as thousands of businesses, communities and major infrastructure have been protected – including more than 8,000 kilometres of roads. The funding prioritised areas where flood defences were needed the most, supporting communities at high risk of flooding. According to estimates, the programme has saved the economy more than £28 billion in damages to homes and businesses through the extra protection provided to communities across the country.
Commenting, Gillian Keegan MP said: “Flooding can devastate lives, communities and livelihoods, that is why as a Government we continue to develop defences and strategies to protect our homes and businesses from the impact of flooding, erosion, and extreme weather. Defences and management are only a part of the solution, we need to continue our work to becoming net-zero, to counter sea-level rise and extreme weather events.”
Commenting, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Our programme of work has protected over 314,000 properties, defending people, communities, and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion. We know that there is still more to do, so we are doubling our investment with a record £5.2 billion over the next six years.”
