Increased flood resilience in the River Great Ouse catchment

In response to the severe floods in December 2020 the Environment Agency says it has now has invested around £30 million in flood defence schemes, repairs and improvements to the thousands of flood risk assets in the River Great Ouse catchment including an improved flood warning service. This service enables the 25 highest risk areas in the River Great Ouse catchment to receive earlier flood warnings than ever before.

Simon Hawkins, Environment Agency Area Director, said: “The Environment Agency has worked constantly over the years to better protect thousands of properties from flooding in the River Great Ouse catchment.

Since December 2020 we have taken a range of measures to improve flood resilience across the region. We have engaged with communities affected by flooding and inspected and repaired thousands of flood defence assets. Our flood defence capital programme has continued to progress, with more flood defence schemes under construction.

Flooding will continue to be a threat to our region. The effects are devastating to those affected and disruptive to many people, with recovery costs that can be huge.

We can never eliminate flooding and we urge people to be prepared for flooding by following the ‘Prepare, Act, Survive’ guidance.”

Between 2011 and 2021 the Environment Agency has invested over £77 million in building and funding flood defence schemes that now better protect more than 15,500 properties in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire from flooding and erosion. The schemes have been completed by the Environment Agency working on its own, or in partnership, and by sponsoring organisations through government Grant-in-Aid (GiA).