In February 2024, Suffolk County Council Flood Grants Officer contacted householders and business owners whose properties were directly impacted by internal flooding during Storm Babet (19-25 October 2023) to inform them about their eligibility for the DEFRA Property Flood Resilience Scheme.
Property owners may apply for up to £5000 (inc. VAT) per property to install measures that make their property more resilient to flooding. Before applying, they must have a survey conducted by a suitably qualified building surveyor and obtain independent quotes for the works they would like to have done. Up to £800 can be claimed towards survey costs, provided they proceed with some (or all) of the recommended works.
So far, almost 800 property owners have yet to apply for the scheme in Suffolk. Given that obtaining surveys and installing measures can take several months, we urge those remaining to consider participating as soon as possible. The grant is available until 30th April 2025 and all work must be completed by July 2025.
The Suffolk County Council flooding team would like to work with parish and town councils to identify community members who may need extra assistance with their applications. This support will help ensure they receive enhanced flood protection and recovery for their homes. Please can you share this information with those residents affected by Storm Babet Flooding.
A full set of guidance notes and the on-line application form, together with a list of suitably qualified surveyors is available, click on this link to view further information.