Slice of £1.4bn flood defence funding to protect Lincolnshire homes and coast
Lincolnshire is set to benefit from a slice of major £1.49 billion investment in flood defences this year, helping to protect tens of thousands of homes, businesses, and farmland from the growing threat of flooding.
The funding will upgrade rivers, embankments, sluices, and coastal defences across the county.
Key Projects in Lincolnshire
Lower Witham Fens – Lincoln to Boston
Aging embankments and 200-year-old flood defences are being repaired and strengthened to reduce the risk of river flooding. The project includes a £15 million refurbishment of Boston’s historic Grand Sluice, ensuring it can continue managing tides and river levels for the next generation.
Saltfleet to Gibraltar Point – Coastal Defence
Tens of thousands of homes, 24,500 caravans, and 35,000 hectares of farmland are protected through annual beach renourishment. Up to 500,000 cubic metres of sand will be topped up this May, letting the beaches absorb wave energy instead of hard sea walls.
Barton to New Holland – Humber Estuary
Strengthened embankments and improved drainage will reduce tidal flood risk for around 1,300 homes and businesses, as part of the Humber 2100+ climate resilience plan.
Repairing Storm Damage
A further £260 million is being spent nationally to maintain and repair flood defences damaged by Storms Goretti and Chandra, ensuring vital protections remain strong when communities need them most.
Wider East Midlands Context
Elsewhere in the East Midlands, Derby’s Our City Our River scheme continues to protect homes and businesses along the River Derwent, while Nottingham and Northamptonshire see upgrades to key sluices and reservoirs.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:
"Flooding can devastate communities overnight. This investment will protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Lincolnshire and beyond, creating jobs and saving billions in potential damage."
Caroline Douglass of the Environment Agency added: "From rivers and reservoirs to beaches and embankments, this funding strengthens communities against flooding and climate change, combining engineering and nature-based solutions."
Since 2024, the government has invested £2.65 billion in flood defences, with a further £4.2 billion committed over the next three years. Over the next decade, a record £7.9 billion will benefit 840,000 properties nationwide, making this the largest flood programme in England’s history.