David Smith, MP for North Northumberland, has welcomed half a million pounds of investment for flood defences throughout Northumberland.

Speaking in Parliament, Smith highlighted the £345,000 for the Coquet Estuary, the £203,000 for Budle Bay and £20,000 for the Belford Burn.

He also raised concerns that 1 in 4 homes are projected to be at risk from flooding by 2050.

Responding, the Floods Minister Emma Hardy said that the government is ‘investing at least £300m in natural flood management over the next ten years’ as well as making it easier to support deprived communities suffering from flooding.

The funding is part of a £1.4 billion investment in flood defences in 2026/27 and sits within the largest flood resilience programme in England’s history, with at least £10.5 billion being invested between 2024 and 2036 to protect homes, businesses and critical infrastructure better.

It also marks a decisive break from 14 years of decline in flood asset condition that left too many communities dangerously exposed.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

“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.

“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.

“We’ve already stepped in to stabilise our flood assets after years of decline and this funding goes further, creating thousands of jobs, protecting communities from billions of pounds of damage, and unlocking new homes and businesses in places made safer from flooding.”

David Smith MP said:

“Flooding has caused worry and disruption for families and businesses in North Northumberland in the past and strengthening our local defences is essential. This substantial investment from the Labour Government across our area will make a meaningful difference – helping to protect homes, support local businesses, and our community the security they deserve.”