Security Minister Dan Jarvis has highlighted the Labour government’s preparations for winter, combining investment in flood defences, roads and railways with a forthcoming campaign to help households prepare for emergencies.
Jarvis said: “Together, these measures will help ensure our communities remain resilient.”
£1.4bn for flood defences
The Cabinet Office’s update, published on 2 October, includes £1.4 billion for flood defences in England during 2026/27, with more than 600 projects being delivered.
It also identifies more than £24 billion for local road maintenance over the next four years and £2.6 billion through Network Rail to improve infrastructure’s resilience to extreme weather. These figures cover different spending periods, rather than a single new allocation for this winter.
“Keeping people safe and our country moving is the first duty of government,” Jarvis said in the announcement.
Helping households prepare
Alongside the infrastructure work, a national awareness campaign will launch later this autumn. It will explain free and low-cost steps households can take, including preparing basic supplies and registering for additional support during utility outages.
The guidance has been developed through engagement with more than 5,000 people and 400 partners, including councils, NHS England and the British Red Cross.
Jarvis’s message brings together the government’s investment programmes and household preparations, with the aim of helping communities withstand winter disruption.
