Kwasi Kwarteng MP welcomes Lower Thames flood defence scheme investment – with £60 million extra funding secured
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has today announced that the Lower Thames flood defence scheme will receive £220 million public investment.
The £300 million scheme will receive £160m as part of the Government’s flood defence allocation programme, with all funding for development and pre-construction now in place.
But the Government have today gone above and beyond this allocation, and have pledged an additional £60 million of new funding, available from 2021. This means the Government will fund around 75% of the current estimated costs, with local authorities and other partners meeting the remaining cost. This is a victory for local Conservative MPs who have campaigned hard for this extra funding.
This scheme will increase the capacity of the River Thames between Datchet and Teddington locks and reduce the flood risk in Windsor and Maidenhead, Spelthorne, Runnymeade, Elmsbridge, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond.
It will protect up to 15,000 households on completion.
George Osborne said:
“Thanks to our long term economic plan, we can invest in the future infrastructure that the UK needs, including flood defences.
“Households sitting along the Lower Thames were badly hit by last winter’s storms, which were a reminder of the threat we face from flooding. That's why we are investing record amounts in Britain’s flood defence systems.
“For the Lower Thames scheme, this will mean £220 million funding – with the Government covering 75 per cent of the current estimated costs - and 15,000 homes protected. And I pay tribute to the fierce campaign fought by local Conservative MPs for the additional £60 million funding beyond the capital programme.
“This investment is a key part of our long-term economic plan, and will deliver safety and security to the thousands of families and businesses that need better protection.”
Kwasi Kwarteng MP commented:
“The Government initially agreed to fund 53% of the River Thames scheme. Over the last few months, I have campaigned hard alongside Spelthorne Borough Council for extra funding. The additional pledge of £60 million means that the Government will now fund 75% of the scheme; this is a big step forward. The River Thames scheme will help to deliver safety and security to local families and businesses that need better flood protection.”
Notes
National information:
- Biggest ever flood investment programme. This capital defence spending programme allocates £2.3 billion of flood defence capital to schemes across the country. This represents a 9 per cent real terms increase on the previous parliament. Details of the national programme are available via Defra’s website at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rur…
- 300,000 homes protected. It is also estimated that this investment programme will drive down overall flood risk by 5 per cent by 2021.
- On course to have spent £3.2 billion on flooding overall in this parliament. This compares to £2.7 billion in the last Parliament. This is more than ever before and represent a real terms increase. By 2015 better flooding protection will have been delivered for 230,000 households.
Local information:
- A detailed list of schemes is available from the Environment Agency’s website at: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency.
- £220 million investment in the Lower Thames scheme. This includes £160 million as part of the capital allocation of £2.3 billion, and an additional £60 million of new money from 2021 – covering around 75 per cent of the estimated total cost.
- Once complete, this will better protect 15,000 households.