The Government has announced a £50 million investment to strengthen flood resilience across Somerset, following one of the county’s wettest winters on record and growing concerns
over the impact of extreme weather on communities and agriculture.
The funding, awarded to Somerset Council, will support a range of measures designed to reduce flood risk, including upgrades to water management infrastructure, improved flood defence schemes, nature-based solutions and enhanced maintenance of watercourses.
The announcement comes after Somerset experienced its second-wettest January on record earlier this year, receiving more than twice its average monthly rainfall. Flooding continued into February, prompting Somerset Council to declare a major incident. Despite the severity of the conditions, existing flood defences, pumping operations and Environment Agency response teams helped protect 2,860 properties.
Ministers said the latest investment aims to provide a long-term solution for communities increasingly exposed to severe weather events linked to climate change.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy, who visited Somerset during the flooding crisis, said the funding would deliver lasting protection for residents and businesses.
“Somerset has faced the full force of extreme weather this year,” she said. “Communities deserve more than a temporary fix, which is why the Government is investing £50 million to protect homes, farms and livelihoods for years to come.”
The investment is expected to provide significant support for Somerset’s agricultural sector, one of the largest in England. Repeated flooding has placed increasing pressure on farming businesses, threatening productivity and rural livelihoods while contributing to higher food costs across supply chains.
Somerset Council Leader Bill Revans welcomed the announcement, describing it as a vital step towards helping local communities adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.
“We are pleased the Government has listened to our calls for urgent action and welcome this vital investment into the future of Somerset,” he said. “This winter has shown how Somerset’s unique environment is particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, and it is clear we must help our communities become more resilient.”
The council said it would work alongside partners including the Environment Agency, Somerset Rivers Authority, Internal Drainage Boards, Natural England and local communities to ensure the funding delivers long-term benefits.
The announcement builds on recent flood protection improvements across Somerset, where new and upgraded defences introduced over the past two years have increased protection for nearly 5,000 properties and helped safeguard agricultural land.
The funding also forms part of the Government’s wider £10.5 billion flood resilience programme, which runs until 2036 and represents the largest investment in flood protection in England’s history.
Alongside the Somerset package, the Environment Agency has launched a new National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service, bringing together forecasting, modelling and warning functions into a single national operation aimed at improving response times during flood events.
The agency also confirmed that 93% of flood defences now meet their required standard, exceeding its target of 92%, following a £72 million programme to repair and restore critical flood infrastructure. Since 2024, the completion of 250 flood protection projects has improved protection for almost 62,000 properties nationwide.
Looking ahead, the Government has announced plans to raise maintenance targets further, increasing the proportion of critical flood assets required to be in good working condition from 92% to 93.5% during 2026/27. Photo by Nigel Mykura, Wikimedia commons.
