The UK government has announced a £10.5 billion plan intended to strengthen flood defences and protect almost 900,000 properties.
The strategy includes changes to planning rules and building standards that are expected to restrict building houses in flood zones and designing homes that are flood-proof.
Officials say the aim is to improve coordination between national and local authorities and support communities at risk of flooding. We break down exactly what is proposed in the government's plans.
Funding and national strategy
The funding, scheduled to run until 2036, will support flood and coastal erosion management projects across England.
According to Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 151 schemes have already been delivered since the start of the government’s current term.
The plan also includes £30 million for coastal adaptation pilots in East Riding, Norfolk, and Suffolk, which will explore property relocation, adaptation of community buildings, and early warning systems.
The Environment Agency is reviewing its statutory Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy, which sets out national priorities and defines what constitutes “good” flood resilience. Risk management authorities are legally required to act in line with this strategy.
Planning and building standards
The government has highlighted updates to the National Planning Policy Framework, which now requires sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in all new developments with drainage implications.
New national standards aim to provide consistent design and implementation across the country. The revised guidance also emphasises avoiding development in areas at high flood risk and ensuring any necessary development does not increase flood risk elsewhere.
“The revised strategy provides a framework for consistent flood resilience standards and clarifies the responsibilities of different authorities,” Reynolds wrote in a letter to MPs.
Consultations are also underway on legislative changes to address unadopted estates and ensure better management of drainage systems, including SuDS, on private developments.
What funding will be given?
Local authorities receive funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement to support flood risk management, but most of this funding is not ring-fenced, leaving decisions about allocation to local discretion.
The Environment Agency provides mapping, modelling, and forecasting support, including a Rapid Flood Guidance service for surface water flooding.
A Flood Resilience Taskforce action group is set to review community engagement and flood reporting, with updates expected in March and a final report in June 2026. The initiative also includes workforce development through the STREAM programme to improve skills in flood management among local authorities and other risk management organisations.
The strategy outlines long-term investment and policy changes intended to strengthen flood resilience. It sets new expectations for planning, building regulations, and local authority engagement, but implementation will require coordination across multiple agencies and local areas.
