Over £2m flood investment secured for Lancaster and Wyre! - Cat Smith

17th March, 2026

£830m in funding for flood schemes for 2026/27 to improve protection for tens of thousands of homes and businesses – part of record investment of at least £10.5 billion between 2024-2036

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses across England will be better protected from the devastating impact of flooding with investment to construct new flood schemes and upgrade existing flood defences, the Environment Agency announced today (Tuesday 17 March).

More than 600 projects will be funded to help better protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses this year – from improved flood barriers and embankments to natural flood management schemes that slow the flow of water before it reaches communities and coastal flood defence projects that reduce the risk of flooding

Together they form part of the largest flood defence programme in English history with at least £10.5 billion invested between 2024 and 2036 to protect homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure from the growing threat of flooding. This is part of a £1.4 billion investment in flood defences in 2026/27.

£260 million will be also allocated to repairing and maintaining Environment Agency flood defences, including those damaged by Storms Goretti and Chandra, ensuring vital protections remain strong when communities need them most. It also marks a decisive break from 14 years of decline in flood asset condition that left too many communities dangerously exposed.

Every £1 invested in flood defences prevents around £8 in economic damage, meaning this investment alone is expected to shield the economy from more than £10 billion in losses.

Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Wyre said:

Securing over £2m for local flood defence schemes, like those in Catterall, Garstang, Glasson Dock. Hambleton and Lancaster means families and businesses will be safer and better protected from flooding.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

Flooding can turn lives upside down in a matter of hours, destroying homes, shutting down businesses and leaving communities facing months of heartbreak and recovery.

This £1.4 billion investment will help protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the country and strengthen the defences families rely on when the worst happens.

We’ve already stepped in to stabilise our flood assets after years of decline and this funding goes further, creating thousands of jobs, protecting communities from billions of pounds of damage, and unlocking new homes and businesses in places made safer from flooding.

Caroline Douglass, Environment Agency Executive Director for Flood and Coastal Risk Management, said:

This investment allows the Environment Agency and our partners to continue our work needed to protect communities from flooding.

In partnership with local authorities, homes and businesses will benefit from stronger defences with more than 600 schemes being delivered across England.

From major flood barriers and strengthened embankments to natural flood management and coastal defence projects, we’re combining engineering and nature-based solutions to reduce flood risk and build long-term resilience for communities across the country.

The Government is investing in flood protection across our area, with funding allocated to a number of projects in the Environment Agency’s 2026/27 programme. These schemes will help protect homes, businesses and communities from flooding and coastal erosion.

Projects set to receive funding include:

Catterall Bridge Replacement – £5,000
Janson Pool Capital Maintenance – £10,000
Yoad Pool Capital Maintenance – £10,000
Wild Boar Capital Maintenance – £10,000
River Mede Capital Maintenance – £10,000
Wyre Catchment Readiness Project – £46,000
Pegs Pool and Wardleys Pool, Hambleton – £304,000
Glasson Dock Gate – £516,000
Garstang Gate Repair – £628,000
Burrow Beck Conveyance Improvements – £633,000