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 has allocated funding for flood defences in Northamptonshire.

In Northamptonshire, over the period 2010/11 to 2022/23 the Environment Agency has better protected 310 homes from flood risk via a capital investment of £14.7 million total spend, sourced from both Government Grant in Aid funding as well as partnership funding sources.

In Northamptonshire, over the period 2023/24 to 2029/30, the Environment Agency is forecasting to better protect 486 homes from flood risk via a capital investment of £18.4 million total spend. This represents the current consented Flood and Coastal Risk Management investment programme, which was approved in February 2024.

The Environment Agency is working with Risk Management Authorities and communities across Northamptonshire. It should be noted that the former Northamptonshire County Council was successful in securing funding for a number of county-wide schemes which are now being progressed by the Unitary Authorities. Relatively small allocations have been used to benefit multiple communities and pave the way for increased resilience. In terms of council-led projects, the current priorities are East Brook Culvert in Kettering for North Northants Council (£425,000 future allocation, £227,000 previous spend) and St Leonards Road in Northampton for West Northants Council (£285,000 future allocation). Notable Environment Agency projects include development of the Nene Water Management Strategy (£3.5 million over a three-year programme) to provide a clear direction for the most economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable way to manage the river and waters between Northampton and Peterborough. There is also investment of £949,268 in the ongoing maintenance of the Northampton Flood Defences.