Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to fund flood mitigation measures in Shrewsbury in the next financial year.

Better protecting communities from flooding remains a key priority for the Government and significant investment in flood mitigation has taken place in Shrewsbury and the wider Severn Valley.

During the 2024-25 financial year, approximately £5 million investment is planned to fund projects that will seek to further reduce flood risk in Shrewsbury. These projects are initiatives funded as part of the current six-year capital programme (2021-27). This programme aims to invest over £150 million, reducing flood risk and better protecting 3,000 homes and businesses across the English Severn and Wye Catchment. Almost £45 million of this will be in Shropshire, better protecting almost 600 homes and businesses.

There are also existing flood risk management assets in Shrewsbury in the Frankwell and Coleham Head areas which together better protects 154 properties from flooding. The Environment Agency ensures they remain operational and highly effective at alleviating flooding to properties, businesses and infrastructure including through the most recent significant flooding events.