The National Flood Forum (NFF) has welcomed the government’s announcement of major reforms to flood defence funding, describing the focus on fairness, deprivation, and community-scale schemes as “a long overdue step in the right direction.”

Under the new rules, set to begin in April 2026, the government will fully fund all prioritised flood projects valued at £3 million or less, with 90% funding for costs above this level. At least 20% of future investment will also be ringfenced for the most deprived communities in England.

However, the NFF cautioned that the overall funding pot is not increasing significantly,  it will simply be shared out differently. This means that fairness, transparency, and local involvement will be critical if the changes are to make a meaningful difference.

Tracey Garrett, Chief Executive of the National Flood Forum, said:

“Communities have been calling for years for a simpler, fairer system that doesn’t leave the most flood-hit places at the back of the queue. These changes have the potential to make a real difference, particularly for smaller towns, villages, and local councils that have struggled to navigate complex funding rules. But this promise will only be realised if the new system is transparent, locally led, and backed by the capacity needed to deliver. Getting the right solution in the right place is key to keeping families safe. It’s vital that communities have access to a full range of options within a genuine catchment-based approach.”

The charity warned that the reforms must now be implemented carefully and fairly.

“We need to be clear about what ‘prioritised projects’ and ‘deprived communities’ really mean in practice,” Tracey continued. “Communities that have suffered repeated flooding must see tangible results, not just new promises.”

The Forum is urging the government and the Environment Agency to work closely with local authorities, community groups, and voluntary organisations to ensure that local knowledge and priorities shape the next flood investment programme.

“Flood resilience starts with people,” Tracey added. “If we get that right, this could be the moment we start to break the cycle of communities being flooded, restoring their homes and lives, and then flooding again.”