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Funding for flood defences is expected to be doubled to £5.2bn in the forthcoming Budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said, as the Prime Minister paid his first visit to a flood-hit area since the recent storms.

The investment will help to build 2,000 new flood and coastal defence schemes and better protect 336,000 properties in England over the next six years.

Mr Sunak said communities in Britain have been “hit hard” by severe flooding this winter, saying it is “right that we invest to protect towns, families, and homes across the UK”.

The funding - which doubles the £2.6bn spent on flood defences between 2015 and 2021 - is expected to be targeted in every region, and will be available from next April.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson meets with local residents in Bewdley in Worcestershire to see recovery efforts following recent flooding in the Severn valley and across the UK. Photo: PETER NICHOLLS/PA Wire

More money was expected as the Conservative manifesto in last year’s General Election promised £4bn in “new” funding for schemes across the country.

It is understood that despite being described as “new” money during the election and “additional funding” by Environment Secretary George Eustice last month - leading to the belief it would be added to previous levels of funding - the £4bn figure was meant as a baseline figure, as a new capital spending period meant the previous sum promised was not carried over.

Luke Pollard, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said: “Communities hit by floods are in no shortage of government press releases and promises.

Boris Johnson makes first visit to flood-hit community as cash for defences announced