Emma Hardy pushes forward new flood defence plans, but not all councils are aligned 

Floods Minister Emma Hardy has introduced a fresh set of proposals aimed at accelerating the rollout of flood protection schemes across both urban centres and rural communities, offering vital safeguards for thousands of homes and businesses. 

Last month Hardy outlined her plans to build over 1,000 flood schemes across the country which formed part of record £2.65 billion two-year investment to protect communities from flooding. 

The government plans to overhaul the current funding system, which has long been criticised for being overly complicated and time-consuming. The changes promise a more straightforward and transparent application process, particularly benefitting councils with limited resources who have struggled under the existing, heavily bureaucratic system. 

Under the new approach, local authorities, including those with tighter budgets, will find it easier to apply for government-backed flood defence funding. The reforms are also intended to ensure that funding is distributed more fairly nationwide, especially to support vulnerable rural and coastal regions. Streamlining the process is expected to fast-track essential flood protection projects, helping the country better prepare for increasingly severe weather patterns. 

Speaking at the recent Flood & Coast Conference, Minister Hardy outlined the new strategy, calling for a more practical and adaptable method of allocating investment for flood resilience work. 

“For years, councils have faced enormous challenges trying to access flood defence funding due to a system that’s outdated and unnecessarily complex. Flooding not only disrupts communities but also hampers economic growth and can be devastating for families and local businesses,” Hardy said. 

“That’s why, as part of our wider Plan for Change, we’re transforming the way flood protection funds are allocated to make sure we can protect homes, businesses, and communities — particularly in rural and coastal areas — as we continue to invest more than £2.65 billion in flood defences across the country.” 

As part of the proposals, the government will fully cover the first £3 million of each approved flood and coastal protection scheme. For costs beyond this, only 10% of the remaining balance would need to be sourced from partners like private investors, with the government funding the rest. 

However, in stark contrast to the government’s renewed focus on flood resilience, one council has made headlines for taking a step back. In Lincolnshire, a newly elected Reform UK-led council made the controversial decision to abolish the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee, despite opposition from other political parties who urged its retention. 

The incoming council leadership argued that scrapping the committee would streamline operations and reduce costs without compromising flood management efforts. 

Labour councillor Karen Lee strongly criticised the decision, calling it “reckless, short-sighted, and irresponsible.” 

Meanwhile, Reform UK’s new council leader Sean Matthews defended the move, insisting that the administration is committed to tackling flooding more diligently than ever. 

“Regardless of whether flooding is driven by climate change or natural cycles, we will not ignore it,” Matthews said. “We campaigned to reduce waste and cut bureaucracy, and this change is part of delivering on that promise.”