The UK Government has made record investment commitments for 2026/27 as part of its long-term £10.5bn flood defence investment programme. This includes £830m for over 600 flood and coastal defence projects nationwide and more than £260m to repair and maintain Environment Agency flood assets.
According to the Government, the application of this funding will range from flood barriers to embankment reinforcements and will utilise both engineered and nature-based solutions. Notably, the importance of maintainability and resilience has been a key feature of the communications around this latest round of flood defence spending, likely a reflection of the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and our changing national climate.
However, whilst this unparalleled investment in flood defence is undoubtedly good news, it’s vital that water management, and the specification of supporting tools, is central to how engineered and nature-based solutions are developed. Natural flood management (NFM) systems, for example, can be enhanced by hidden geosynthetic elements. By using geotextiles and geocells within NFMs like vegetated floodplains and wetlands, soils are stabilised, root-zone erosion is minimised during high-velocity flood events, and natural vegetation is still able to establish and persist, further slowing potential floodwaters. This combination of increased flood defence and preservation of the natural environment is crucial to the future of responsible flood management in the UK.
Similarly, when it comes to coastal defence projects – a critical part of the Government’s investment strategy – specification of geosynthetics allows for both long-term stability and natural sedimentation and habitat development, again balancing environmental concerns with efficient flood defence.
From the perspective of engineered systems, the inclusion of geosynthetics can improve the reliability and strength of embankments, flood walls, and containment systems, as well as forming an integral part of SuDS.
Adam Brooksbank, manager for geosynthetics at Terram®, said: “The Government’s commitment to funding flood defence projects represents a major milestone in our national approach to protecting homes and businesses from the impact of flooding. However, to maximise the impact, efficiency and longevity of the measures funded by this investment, it is vital that the most effective water management materials are specified for each project.
“Geosynthetics are a critical enabling technology for both natural and engineered flood defences, as well as offering an interface which allows both system types to work better together. As decisions are made on how existing defences are upgraded and maintained and how new projects are implemented, the inclusion of geomaterials could make all the difference to the success of this latest governmental investment.”