England’s ability to sustain current levels of flood protection for homes and businesses faces “major risks”, MPs have warned.
Some five million properties across the country, or around one in six, are at risk of flooding from coastal, river and surface water, and climate change is increasing the risks of extreme weather and floods, a report by the public accounts committee said.
While the budget for spending on new defences has been agreed for the next six years, allowing longer term planning, funding for maintenance is only settled annually.
This prevents the Environment Agency from taking a long-term approach on maintaining existing flood protection and secure savings on its spending, the MPs said and urged the Treasury to agree longer budgets for maintenance spending.
The Guardian: One in six UK homes at risk from flooding, says MPs report
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