THE Isle of Wight will receive more than £2.3 million to upgrade its flood defences, as part of a national programme aimed at protecting homes and businesses from increasingly severe weather.
The investment, announced by the Environment Agency, is part of a nationwide £830 million allocation for flood schemes in 2026-27.
It sits within the government’s record £10.5 billion flood resilience programme, which runs to 2036 — representing the largest such investment in England’s history.
More than 600 schemes across the country are due to benefit next year, with improved protection expected for around 29,000 properties.
On the Isle of Wight, three projects have been confirmed.
One is a new Property Flood Resilience scheme, intended to bolster protection for homes that experience repeated flooding.
The work aims to make individual properties more resistant to damage, helping households recover more quickly after severe weather.
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Two further capital maintenance projects will focus on keeping existing flood defences in safe and effective working order.
The Environment Agency said maintaining infrastructure is essential, as climate change increases the frequency of extreme rainfall and storm surges.
More than £100,000 of the Island’s allocation will be specifically directed towards boosting property-level protection in the Isle of Wight West constituency — an area that has seen persistent flood risk during recent winters.
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley said the funding would make a meaningful difference.
“Time and time again our community has been let down by inadequate flooding provision, and it has real consequences for families and small businesses,” he said.
“For the Island, £2.3 million is not a small amount, and I’m really pleased the government has listened to the concerns I’ve raised.”
Floods minister, Emma Hardy, said flooding devastates communities.
“Flooding can turn lives upside down in a matter of hours, destroying homes, shutting down businesses and leaving communities facing months of heartbreak and recovery,“ she said.
“This £1.4 billion investment will help protect tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the country — and strengthen the defences families rely on when the worst happens,” she said.
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