Communities across Kent are better protected against the possibility of flooding now than they were six years ago.

That is the conclusion of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which today released its report on the last six years of flood protection work.

Nationally, Defra said that between 2015 and 2021 it had spent £2.6 billion on providing flood protection for 314,00 homes, which was 14,000 more than the target figure.

In addition, more than 850 new flood and coastal erosion defence projects had been completed, and over 580,000 acres of agricultural land protected.

Defra said that over all the work had reduced the national flood risk by around 5% and potentially saved the economy in the region of £28 billion in avoided damage to homes and businesses.

The Secretary of State for the Environment, George Eustice, said: "Here in the South East, between 2015 and 2021, we invested £430 million to better protect 80,600 homes.

"The Environment Agency has worked with local government to deliver the Middle Medway flood resilience scheme, to reduce flood risk to homes at very significant risk."

He said: "That scheme was completed in November 2020 and in total, the Environment Agency has installed property flood resilience measures to 286 homes across the Weald villages of Yalding, Collier Street, Hunton, East Farleigh, West Farleigh, Wateringbury, Marden and Nettlestead.

"These measures included flood doors, flood gates and air brick covers.

"Meanwhile, a beach management scheme covering Hythe to Folkestone has better protected 2,190 homes."

Mr Eustice said: "Of course, we know that there is more to do – and that every property that floods is a property too many.

"That is why the government has committed to doubling our investment in flood defences to £5.2 billion in the 2021-2027 spending period.

"But," the said the Secretary of State: "We have already made huge progress in the South East and I am determined that we will continue to do so."

Emma Howard Boyd, the chairman of the Environment Agency (EA), said: "There are very few national infrastructure programmes that come in on time, on budget, and on target: I am very proud that the EA has achieved this.

"That is all down to the expertise, dedication and commitment of the EA teams and our partners across the country: they deserve the nation’s thanks."

She said: “Flood defence works. While we can never protect everyone against all flooding all the time, we can reduce the risk of it happening and the impact when it does.

"In February this year – and for the first time - we had three named storms in a week, and rivers rose to record heights. While some 400 properties sadly flooded, over 40,000 homes and businesses were protected by our defences."

She said: "The climate emergency is bringing greater risks. Our response must be to protect our communities as best we can."

The government's new targets for 2021 and 2027 are reduce the national flood risk by 11% and protect 550 kilometres of road and rail infrastructure, create or improve 13,000 acres of natural habitat, and enhance 830 kilometres of rivers.

An assessment of how the first six-year programme went can be viewed here.