AT-risk residents have bolstered their homes using £2 million-worth of flood defences from Essex County Council. Further investment in flood management is planned in 2025/26.

The council recently published its 2025/26 budget proposals and annual plan. These set out how it intends to spend the more than £2 billion it is responsible for next year.

Part of its priorities include tackling flooding and how the council will build on the Local Nature Strategy and the Essex Water Strategy, to take an integrated water management approach.

In the last year alone, the council has taken significant steps forward in respect of flood management. This includes awarding the Property Flood Resilience Grant (PFR) to over 200 Essex households which have or may experience flood water entering their homes. 100 more applications are also being processed.

Each household can receive up to £8,000 in flood defences from the council’s partner, Lakeside Flood Solutions. These can include:

self-closing air bricks
reinforced flood doors
non-return valves
pumps
flood barriers
Next year, the council plans to develop a new Regional Flood Strategy and invest £4.5 million towards eight major capital flood programme schemes.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “Essex has a long history of fighting floods from the sea and rivers, and heavy rain that can overwhelm drainage systems is becoming more frequent.

“I am therefore pleased residents have made the most of the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant to secure their homes for the future. I look forward to continuing our flood management work in the coming year. The investment we are making highlights just how important this issue is.”

The PFR grant comes as the Met Office anticipates average winter rainfall could increase by 35% by 2070, with rainfall intensity projected to increase by 25%.

The council has also collated data on properties currently at risk of rainfall flooding across Essex.

Through previous budgets, the council has also:

achieved an A-rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project
launched its £250 million Climate Action Plan
granted £2 million of energy upgrades for low-income households
expanded three schools with net zero constructions and solar panels
launched the £500,000 Climate Action Challenge Fund
piloted e-scooters with over three million rides to date
switched council buildings to 100% renewable energy
published its net zero roadmap to 2050
released the Travel Essex app for easy planning on public transport
launched the on-demand minibus service DigiGo
Read more about the council’s 2025/26 budget proposals. These will be presented in a meeting of the Full Council on 13 February 2025 for formal approval.

ENDS

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