The Environment Agency and the Government have claimed homes and businesses in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly are to be better protected from flooding and coastal erosion as part of plans published today, with £61.8m invested in more than 50 schemes in 2021/22.

The investment is part of plans outlining £5.2 billion of investment over the next six years.

More than £860 million will be spent in 2021/22 boosting design and construction of more than 1,000 schemes across England as part of the Environment Agency’s annual capital programme.

It is part of the Flood and Coastal Erosion Investment Plan, published today, which sets out how new flood and coastal schemes will better protect 336,000 properties by 2027, helping to avoid £32 billion in wider economic damages and reducing the national flood risk by up to 11 per cent.

This follows the Environment Agency’s delivery of the government’s previous £2.6 billion investment between 2015 and 2021, which looked to better protect more than 314,000 homes.

New schemes include Dartmoor Headwaters, a pilot project aimed at using natural process and soft engineering techniques to reduce flood risk and the Truro Flood Risk Management Strategy which will assess how the tide, river and surface water interact to affect flood risk.

Helen Dobby, Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Director at the Environment Agency, said: "Recent devastating flood events across Europe have thrown the spotlight starkly and irrevocably on climate change and our need to adapt.

"We can expect to see more instances of extreme weather bringing increases in flooding and coastal erosion.

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"We know there’s a lot to do and we are already working hard locally with partners and communities to deliver the new six year programme which will bring better protection and increased resilience to almost 9,000 households in towns and villages across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by 2027."

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "The tragic recent events in Germany and Belgium serve as a sobering reminder of how devastating flooding can be.

"We are standing by communities and will bolster defences against flooding across England with many thousands more properties better protected by 2027.

"It’s important we take action right across the system.

"Our comprehensive plan will achieve this by tightening planning procedures, helping more people access insurance and making homes more resilient to the effects of flooding."

The yearly investment will see an extra £250 million invested in flood and coastal defences in 2021/22 compared with last year - the highest ever annual investment.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, said: "We have seen some devastating flooding around the world so far this summer.

"No one can prevent all flooding and climate change means the risk is increasing, but we can reduce the risks.

"Having completed the government’s previous six year capital programme on time and on budget, better protecting more than 314,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion, this year we began the government’s new £5.2 billion flood programme.

"These schemes should provide reassurance to communities and businesses, but no one should have a false sense of security.

"I strongly urge people to sign up for flood warnings and regularly check flood risk on gov.uk."