The government today announced the extra funding, bringing the total IDB (internal drainage boards) fund to £91 million on top of the £75 million allocated last year.
To date, the IDB Fund has provided £53 million for more than 200 projects between July 2024 and March 2025.
The money for projects over the next two years was first announced by Floods Minister Emma Hardy last year, alongside changes to what she described as an “outdated” formula for flood defence funding.
IDBs will bid for money to improve, repair or replace assets – including flood barriers, embankments and maintenance of watercourses.
The government says the aim is to ‘reduce risks and impacts from flooding to farming and rural communities across England’, and Ms Hardy said work between the Environment Agency and IDBs was already under way.
The minister also previously said that the complex 2011 formula for flood defence funding would be reviewed, with the aim of ensuring that the value of businesses and communities in rural areas is better taken into account – a long standing NFU lobbying ask.
‘The UK desperately needs a joined-up approach’
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos said the funding would “enable further investment to modernise and upgrade IDB assets, reducing financial pressures across the sector following the devastating impacts of flooding during the 2023-24 winter season”.
She added: “Today’s announcement to increase the funding for IDBs is another huge boost to the important role these boards play in helping protect the best and most versatile agricultural land from flooding.
“We welcome the ongoing review of the complex 2011 formula for flood defence funding.
“The current system does not recognise the value of protecting agricultural land and the benefits it provides, or considers the impacts to rural businesses, to critical infrastructure and to the environment.
“Today’s announcement to increase the funding for IDBs is another huge boost to the important role these boards play in helping protect the best and most versatile agricultural land from flooding.”
NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos
“The UK desperately needs a joined-up approach – a comprehensive water management strategy that allows us to collaborate better with government, local authorities, water companies and the Environment Agency – one that allows farmers and growers to be part of the solution and prioritises UK food security as national security.”
Ms Hardy acknowledged that flooding can take a “devastating toll on farmers and rural communities”. She added that the additional funding will ensure rural flood assets are "more resilient or fully replaced".
The money is part of an overall £2.65 billion of investment in UK flood and coastal erosion resilience until March 2026, and follows an existing £25m tranche of IDB funding.
