Schemes to safeguard communities from flooding given funding boost

Devon County Councils annual Flood Risk Management Action Plan for the upcoming financial year has been rubber stamped by councillors.

At the meeting of the ruling cabinet committee members also approved increasing the capital programme by £152,500 for 2025/26 and by £142,500 for 2026/27.

The increases will be funded through Defra’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid to support DCC’s unique Property Flood Resilience scheme.

The cabinet heard that the funding increases follows the flooding of more than 400 properties in 2023 and least 87 properties in 2024.

To help safeguard at risk communities in Devon, a number of projects are currently being developed and delivered.

These include the completion of the Property Flood Resilience scheme in the Sticklepath area of Barnstaple, which will protect 40 properties, the delivery of drainage improvements in Coburg Road, Sidmouth, to reduce surface runoff being directed into the town centre, reducing the flood risk to at least 17 properties and businesses in the town and flood improvement works in Venn Ottery which will help protect at least eight properties.

Additionally, the delivery of schemes in Colaton Raleigh, Broadhempston, South Pool and Longbrook Street in Exeter is imminent and collectively will help safeguard at least 40 properties.