England’s 2026/27 flood and coastal programme is now confirmed. The Environment Agency has allocated a £1.4 billion package for the year, funding more than 600 projects across England to upgrade existing barriers and build new defences for tens of thousands of homes and businesses. Of this, £830 million is directed to schemes and £260 million to repair and maintain Agency assets, including those hit by Storms Goretti and Chandra. Ministers describe this as part of the largest programme on record, with at least £10.5 billion planned between 2024 and 2036, and cite an appraisal ratio of roughly 8:1 for avoided damages exceeding £10 billion. (gov.uk)
Alongside the annual settlement, government has set a three‑year commitment of £4.2 billion for April 2026 to March 2029 and confirmed a £7.9 billion capital envelope from April 2026 to March 2036 under the UK’s 10‑year Infrastructure Strategy. The 2026/27 programme list covers allocations for works scheduled between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. (gov.uk)
Delivery remains with the Environment Agency in partnership with local authorities, internal drainage boards, water companies and other Risk Management Authorities. Regional Flood and Coastal Committees have consented to the 2026/27 programme; future multiyear allocations will continue to require annual RFCC consent and depend on future Spending Reviews. (gov.uk)
A new FCERM funding policy applies from 1 April 2026. Guidance published by the Environment Agency on 3 March 2026 sets out eligibility for capital grants, methods for calculating economic benefits, and how standalone natural flood management interventions can qualify for funding. (gov.uk)
Major 2026/27 allocations span riverine and coastal priorities. These include £59.3 million for the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier in Somerset; £37.1 million for Derby’s Flood Risk Management Scheme; £24.3 million for Kendal; capacity improvements and a flood channel on the River Thames in Surrey at £17.0 million; £16.7 million for Rochdale & Littleborough; and £15.2 million for Preston & South Ribble. On the coast, the programme funds Blackpool Beach nourishment at £17.69 million and Bispham at £14.6 million in Lancashire, £11.36 million for Saltfleet to Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire, £10.32 million for Southsea (Portsea Island) in Hampshire, and £12.34 million for habitat creation at Wareham in Dorset. (gov.uk)
Coastal programmes on the south coast include the Pevensey Bay to Eastbourne scheme, a £100 million undertaking with more than £8 million in 2026/27, expected to protect over 2,100 homes over the next century. Ahead of the next phase from 2027, a further £5 million will bolster defences between Holywell and Cooden Beach. (gov.uk)
For local authorities and other promoters, the confirmed allocations create a defined window to finalise business cases, align match funding, and schedule procurement. The Agency’s guidance clarifies appraisal expectations, including recognised approaches for natural flood management, enabling sponsors to present mixed engineering‑and‑nature packages where these deliver measurable risk reduction. (gov.uk)
Maintenance is a central component of the settlement, with £260 million reserved to sustain and repair Environment Agency assets after recent storm damage. Government positions this as a break from 14 years of declining asset condition, with a view to stabilising the system while capital works progress. (gov.uk)
Officials indicate the programme aims to support skilled employment across engineering, construction and environmental management while reducing risk to households, businesses and critical infrastructure. For operators of utilities and transport, the publication of a single‑year workplan within a ten‑year strategic envelope provides greater visibility of sequencing and inter‑dependency with other capital works. (gov.uk)
Future adjustments remain possible. The policy paper notes that multiyear investment for in‑flight projects is subject to annual RFCC consenting and future spending decisions, so delivery bodies should monitor updates to the published scheme list and maintain readiness to re‑profile where required. (gov.uk)