She suggested: “If we can not build on a flood plain then obviously that’s best. But there are ways of building that mean homes are not at risk of increased flooding and, more importantly, don’t increase the risk of flooding elsewhere.”
While the money was largely not earmarked for flood prevention schemes at the source, such as upland restoration, Hardy said the government was also looking at reviewing how the “flood formula” was calculated, which is used to allocate money based on the number of properties that would be protected.
This would mean schemes that have a wider good, such as natural flood management, would be more readily funded.
“It’s quite difficult with natural flood management to come up with a hard-edged calculation on how many properties are protected,” she said.
The shadow environment secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “In government, the Conservatives invested record amounts of money in flood defences and coastal erosion. To say otherwise is wholly untrue.
“Steve Reed has not told us where this latest money has come from, whether it is in fact a repackaging of money invested by a Conservative government, or how he intends to offer tailored support to frequently flooded communities.”
