The Welsh Government has announced a record £85M package for flood and coastal erosion risk management in 2026/27, the largest single-year allocation for such work in Wales.

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca‑Davies made the announcement during a visit to a major coastal defence scheme at Rover Way in Cardiff, where contractors are building a series of structures intended to reduce the risk of coastal flooding.

The funding boost is the latest tranche in a broader programme of investment during the current Senedd term. The government says it has now committed more than £377M to flood risk management since 2021, and that the new £85M includes nearly £43M in capital funding for new schemes. A detailed project map and breakdown have been published by ministers.

At Rover Way, Cardiff Council is delivering a £35.2M scheme featuring rock revetments, earth embankments, sheet piling and erosion protection along the shoreline. When finished, the work is expected to reduce coastal flood risk to 2,326 homes and 204 non‑residential properties over the next 100 years, according to the Welsh Government. Ministers say the government has provided 85% of construction costs and fully funded the scheme’s development expenses.

Rover Way forms part of the Coastal Risk Management Programme (CRMP), a concentrated five‑year initiative the government values at £291M. The CRMP is scheduled to deliver 15 individual schemes across Wales and, when complete, is projected to improve protection for almost 14,000 properties.

In addition to large capital projects, the allocation includes more than £7.4M for a Small Scale Works Grant intended to fund about 106 local projects next year. These smaller interventions are described by ministers as a way of delivering practical maintenance and improvement work while supporting local contractors and jobs.

Revenue funding within the package will continue to finance routine activity by Risk Management Authorities and the Wales Coastal Monitoring Centre – maintaining assets, issuing warnings, employing specialist staff and collecting data to inform future planning.

The Welsh Government has also earmarked £5.26M for 35 Natural Flood Management (NFM) projects over the coming year. NFM techniques , such as tree planting, installation of leaky dams and habitat restoration , are intended to reduce flood risk for more than 3,300 properties while delivering environmental and wellbeing benefits.

During his visit, Irranca‑Davies met trainees and apprentices working on the Rover Way project and announced a separate £500,000 external workforce development programme. That initiative is intended to strengthen specialist flood and coastal skills across Wales over the next three years.

Flooding and coastal erosion are expected to increase in frequency and severity as a result of climate change and rising sea levels, particularly in low‑lying coastal and estuarine communities. The Welsh Government’s announcement follows similar commitments across the UK to bolster flood defences, though questions remain over long‑term maintenance costs, the prioritisation of schemes and how interventions will be balanced with nature‑based approaches.

Local authorities and environmental groups have broadly welcomed funding for both large and small projects, but have previously called for clearer multi‑year funding certainty to allow longer‑term planning and to ensure local contractors and supply chains can scale up to meet demand.

The new allocations for 2026/27 are due to be distributed to Risk Management Authorities across Wales in the coming weeks, with individual project timetables and funding arrangements published by the government.

Irranca‑Davies said: “We have delivered record investment in flood and coastal erosion risk management because protecting people, homes and businesses is crucial.

“This year’s £85M of funding is the highest annual investment Wales has ever seen.

“It will fund new schemes right across the country, maintain vital infrastructure, and help communities adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change.

“At Rover Way you can see this investment in action. Strengthening defences, protecting thousands of properties and supporting skilled jobs – while we continue to build long-term resilience for communities across Wales.”

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