ADA welcomes further Government funding to support floods recovery and water management

(Image © Water Management Alliance)

ADA welcomes the news today (Monday 31 March 2025) that the Government has pledged a further £16 million towards helping internal drainage boards (IDBs) recover from the very damaging floods of the 2023/24 winter period and to modernise and upgrade IDB assets and waterways to ensure they are fit for the future.

The floods during 2023/24 found weaknesses in some of England’s aging flood defences and equipment and Government righty recognised the need and benefit of investing money in the replacement and repair of those assets.

This additional funding, bolstering the previously allocated £75 million, takes the total provided to IDBs under Defra’s ‘IDB Storm Recovery & Asset Improvement Fund’ to £91 million. So far, the IDB Fund has provided £53 million for more than 200 projects between July 2024 and March 2025. It will have supported 91 of the nation’s 112 IDBs upon completion.

The additional funding will help IDBs to continue to repair and enhance flood risk management assets, whilst managing rising cost pressures. Beyond safeguarding communities, this investment is also enabling IDBs to manage water levels more effectively both for agricultural productivity and environmental priorities, bolstering the resilience and adaptability of our lowlands for years to come.

ADA welcomes the comments from Floods Minister, Emma Hardy, in announcing the funding and “…putting IDBs on a firm footing to deliver their vital work on flood and water management for years to come.”

And similarly from Ian Hodge, the Environment Agency’s Chief Engineer and Director of Asset Management & Engineering, who said: “By increasing the IDB Fund with an additional £16 million, we are equipping these essential public bodies to address the mounting challenges posed by climate change, including more frequent and severe weather events.”

The announcement of the additional funding to IDBs comes alongside the confirmation by the Government of the over 1,000 flood defence schemes that have been, or will continue to be, supported over the current (2024/25), and next (2025/26), financial year. This year around £430 million is going towards their construction, while a further £220 million will be used to reinstate flood defences to their full standard of service and original design life to help protect communities.

ADA looks forward to engaging and hearing from the Government about its future investment plans in this area for 2026/27 and beyond, ensuring that there is an adequate boost to the management, maintenance and repair of our existing flood defence assets, systems, and waterways, alongside the construction of new defences. ADA expects to hear further details on this when the government sets out its plans for spending and key public sector reforms at the Spending Review which will conclude on 11 June 2025.

Commenting on the additional funding for IDBs, Innes Thomson, ADA’s CEO said: “Minister Hardy’s announcement of additional funding is a very welcome one. It is reassuring that the Government understands the vital importance of flood risk management to the wellbeing of our economic, social, and environmental wellbeing”.

He went on to say: “There is still a lot more work needed to get our flood risk assets back up to standard. We must focus our forward attention through the next Spending Review on getting the balance of investment right between new projects and the proper management and maintenance of the assets we already have”

 

Notes to Editors

 

ADA

ADA is the membership organisation for those involved in drainage, water level and flood risk management. Its members include Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs), the Environment Agency, Regional Flood Defence Committees, Local Authorities, Natural Resources Wales, the Northern Ireland Rivers Agency, Consultants, Contractors and Suppliers.

ADA is involved in a wide range of work for and on behalf of its members helping to exchange ideas towards solving common problems and finding new, better ways of working. ADA responds to consultations from the Government, either on behalf of members or assisting with individual member responses. It represents all interests nationally and locally in relation to drainage, water level and flood risk management, for example, in relation to legislation and public inquiries. ADA acts together with other organisations to pursue the Association’s objectives, including linking to Europe through ADA’s membership of EUWMA, the European Union of Water Management Associations.

ADA obtains and shares information on matters of importance and interest to members, and provides advice on technical and administrative problems. ADA is supported by a volunteer network of branches which bring together members for meetings at a regional level. ADA organises exhibitions and meetings for the benefit of members, maintains a website at www.ada.org.uk and publishes the quarterly ADA Gazette.

ADA is a limited company with offices based at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. ADA welcomes enquiries from the press and can be contacted during normal weekday office hours on 02476 992889 or by e-mail at admin@ada.org.uk.

 

For press enquiries please contact:

Eur Ing J Innes Thomson BSc CEng FICE

Chief Executive

Association of Drainage Authorities

Rural Innovation Centre, Avenue H, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LG

e-mail: innes.thomson@ada.org.uk

Website: www.ada.org.uk

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