16.03.16
Chancellor promises £685m for flood defences
Flood defences will receive £685m in extra funding, the chancellor announced in today’s Budget.
George Osborne described the funding in Parliament as a £700m boost, but the published figures show £685m spending over the next four years – £80m in 2016-17, £200m in 2017-18 and £205m each in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
Osborne said that the funding, introduced in response to increasing extreme weather, would support projects in York, Leeds, Calder Valley, Cumbria and Carlisle, who are among the areas affected by last winter’s devastating floods.
It is raised by increasing insurance premium tax by 0.5%.
Osborne also said funding decisions would be made following the results of a review into the government’s flood defence policy, led by chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin.
Dr Andy Johnson, chief operating officer of the Local Government Information Unit, called for a joined-up approach to flooding in the most recent edition of PSE.
(Image c. Owen Humphreys from PA Images)