Stuart Anderson MP is pleased that Ministers have accepted his request to launch a review of flooding support for local communities. In a letter to Stuart dated 16th April 2025, the Minister for Flooding and Water Emma Hardy MP promised that a consultation will follow in the "coming months."
The pledge follows months of campaigning, after Stuart repeatedly raised concerns about the Flooding Recovery Framework (FRF). In August, Stuart launched his campaign calling on Ministers to improve the financial assistance available to flood-hit communities through the Framework.
Stuart's campaign followed concerns that support is only activated if a local authority reports internal flooding at a defined number of properties. Before changes made by the last government, the figure stood at 25 residential properties.
The threshold now stands at a combined 50 residential and businesses properties. However, local authorities have to front the costs of recovery support from their limited budgets in areas where the threshold has not been met.
Stuart has said that even the revised formula does not adequately help rural communities, as properties in these areas are often located at a distance from each other and as flooding crosses council boundaries. He wants the formula to better consider river systems and catchment areas.
In March, Stuart repeated his request for a review of the Framework. He also urged Ministers to publish a full list of places to benefit from a £2.65 billion investment they had pledged. The full list, published on 31st March, includes £5 million for flood management schemes in South Shropshire.
The two-year investment will see projects across the constituency between April 2025 and March 2026. This includes property resilience schemes in Culmington, Bridgnorth, and Bucknell and £2 million for the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme.
It also includes a 'Demonstrator Project' to test nature-based solutions in Attingham - backed by £260,000. Meanwhile, a £2.5 million natural flood management project will fund carbon offsetting with tree planting.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Flooding causes both mental and financial stress for residents in South Shropshire, costing farmers £1 billion just last year. Support is only activated once fifty properties are impacted. This means that smaller and more isolated rural communities often lose out, as there are fewer properties at greater distances from each other. I am pleased we have secured almost £5 million for local areas including Culmington, Bridgnorth, and Bucknell. I also welcome that Ministers have accepted my request to consult on improving the funding mechanism to deliver more effective flooding support."
In her letter to Stuart, Minister Emma Hardy MP said:
"In response to concerns about the current funding framework, a consultation will be launched in the coming months to review the existing funding formula. This review will specifically consider the challenges faced by businesses, as well as rural and coastal communities, in accessing flood protection. The consultation will be open to all stakeholders, including local authorities, community groups, and the public, to gather a broad range of views and improve the approach to flood investment."
