Tens of thousands of properties in the UK are now at increased risk of flooding due to deteriorating flood defences, according to leaked government data obtained by The Guardian.
The leak from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) indicates a significant decline in the condition of flood defence assets, raising concerns about the country’s preparedness for worsening weather conditions.
According to the leaked findings, the proportion of flood defences rated as “adequate” has dropped from 97.9% in 2018/2019 to 92.6% in 2024.
Government sources cited by The Guardian admitted that this figure is “significantly below” the optimal level of 98%, with each 1% drop in adequacy reportedly putting an additional 10,000 properties at risk of flooding.
The concerning figures come as the UK faces predictions of a wetter-than-average autumn, with the Met Office warning of increased flood risks due to higher rainfall levels.
While the data may not directly reflect on the current government’s short time in office, it raises alarms over the country’s flood preparedness amid growing concerns of climate-related extreme weather events.
Earlier this month, the government launched its Flood Resilience Taskforce, a key initiative aimed at addressing the nation’s vulnerability to flooding.
The first meeting, chaired by Environment Secretary Steve Reed on 12 September 2024, brought together key stakeholders including representatives from Defra, the Environment Agency, local authorities, emergency services, and the Met Office.
The taskforce’s mission is to improve coordination between central government, local authorities, and community responders, as well as to develop long-term strategies to protect flood-prone communities.
Despite the drop in asset condition, the Environment Agency has significantly ramped up its flood defence efforts. In the first meeting of the taskforce, the agency revealed it had conducted 170,000 checks on flood defences in the past year—100,000 more than in an average year—due to the unprecedented storms experienced last winter.
The agency also increased its spending on maintenance and repair work, rising from £200 million to £236 million.
An Environment Agency spokesperson explained that the agency maintains around 75,000 flood defence assets across England and stressed that the defences had successfully protected over 282,000 properties during last winter’s storms. “We prioritise maintenance where there is a significant threat to lives and livelihoods,” the spokesperson said.
“If the performance of an asset is reduced, we will take action to ensure that flood risk is effectively managed until the asset is fully repaired or replaced.”
The deteriorating state of the UK’s flood defences is expected to be a critical issue for the Flood Resilience Taskforce as it works to develop comprehensive strategies to protect communities from future flooding.
The taskforce’s long-term vision will involve cooperation across various sectors, including emergency services, local authorities, and agricultural groups, to ensure that flooding preparations are both proactive and coordinated.
