What percentage of England's flood defences are below standard?

As of October, nearly 9% of inspected flood defences in England were below their required condition.

Who maintains flood defences in England?

Flood defences are maintained by various entities including the Environment Agency, local councils, private individuals, companies, and charities.

Are England's flood defences improving?

While record investment is being made, many defences are still below standard, and wetter winters pose an ongoing challenge.

Home / Disasters and Accidents / Thousands of UK Flood Defences Underperforming

Thousands of UK Flood Defences Underperforming

10 Dec

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Summary

Nearly 9% of England's flood defences were below condition in October.
Record investment has not eliminated stark regional disparities.
Third-party maintained defences are 45% more likely to be failing.

Thousands of UK Flood Defences Underperforming

Thousands of flood defences across England, crucial for protecting homes and businesses, were found to be in inadequate condition as winter commenced. An analysis revealed that nearly 9% of inspected defences were not fully operational due to damage, erosion, or overgrowth, raising concerns about national resilience. While the government points to record investment, significant regional variations persist, with some areas experiencing over 40% of their defences below standard.

The figures underscore the scale of the challenge, especially with increasingly wetter winters. A concerning finding is that flood defences maintained by entities other than the Environment Agency are substantially more likely to be failing. This points to complexities in shared responsibilities, as illustrated by residents in Leicestershire who had to build their own defences during a recent flood event.