The UK’s largest ever flood protection investment

This sum includes a contribution to the River Thames Scheme, which will reduce flood risk to 15,000 properties and tens of thousands of people living and working near the Thames.

Costing £640 million, the overall scheme represents the largest investment in flood risk in the UK to date. £404 million has already been committed including £308 million government investment and £95 million of further partnership funding. The Environment Agency and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have also agreed contributions towards the scheme.

The River Thames Scheme will create three flood alleviation channels alongside the River Thames and improve capacity at three weirs. It will run from Datchet in Berkshire, through Surrey to Teddington. The scheme will also support a greener future, with four country parks created as well as 23km of new footways and cycle paths.

Surrey County Council’s funding also includes £33 million to spend over 10 years on flood alleviation projects and other actions to minimise the impact of flooding on homes, businesses and infrastructure across the county.

By Jake Frith