ABI urges Govt to improve flood defences

The ABI has written to Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Flood and Rural, recommending the Government spends £8bn over 25 years on east coast defences. Stephen Haddrill, director general of the ABI, says the Government must not spend money “piecemeal in a constant effort to keep pace with changing flood risks”. He says a long term strategy would enable the Environmental Agency to spend more efficiently by planning and commissioning work with fewer overhead costs than at present. He highlights the National Audit Office’s recommendation that the Government spend further...