Cabinet minister Steve Reed paid a flying visit to Ipswich on Wednesday to see the town's flood barrier and launch a major new programme of nationwide protection schemes.
He said a record £2.65 billion would be committed to build or maintain up to 1,000 flood defences, protecting more than 66,000 properties across the country.
Tens of thousands of homes and business will be better protected from flooding as the government unveils a record package to build new flood defences and maintain and repair those already in place.
As part of the Plan for Change, the Government is committing a record two-year investment of £2.65 billion with 52,000 properties set to benefit from new defences by March 2026.
To shore up creaking defences in need of repairs, funding will be reprioritised for investment in much-needed maintenance, benefitting a further 14,500 properties. This means a total of 66,500 properties will benefit from this funding.
Mr Reed was joined by Ipswich MP Jack Abbott and officials from the Environment Agency during his visit to the flood barrier.
The £67m project on the New Cut was completed in 2021 and is designed to protect 2,000 properties in the town.
Wednesday's announcement is also aimed at protecting farmland which has been badly hit by recent storms, in turn helping to safeguard farm businesses and farmers’ profits.
Mr Reed said: "The storms this winter have devastated lives and livelihoods. The role of any Government is to protect its citizens.
"Under our Plan for Change, we are investing a record £2.65 billion to build and maintenance flood defences to protect lives, homes and businesses from the dangers of flooding."
Ipswich MP Jack Abbott added: “Today’s announcement is a crucial step in ensuring that towns and cities across the country are properly protected from the devastating effects of flooding.
"The Ipswich Tidal Barrier is critical infrastructure which protects thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses, so it was an apt setting for the Government's announcement of a record investment into flood defences.
“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent due to climate change - we have seen the impact across Suffolk in recent years - so we must be proactive in protecting areas at risk.
"This investment is not just about fixing past neglect – it’s about securing the future, giving people peace of mind that their homes and workplaces are safe.
"While Ipswich already has strong flood defences - and I welcome the additional money provided here - this vital boost in funding is much needed for areas across our county and our region which have been badly affected over the past few years."
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