Still time for flood-hit properties to apply for grant

Local residents and businesses flooded in Derbyshire during Storm Babet are being reminded to apply for grant funding before the 1st August deadline to help protect their property from further flooding in the future.

Derbyshire County Council has already received more than 600 applications for grants of up to £5,000 per property available through the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant Scheme.

The scheme is being administered by the county council, in its role as lead local flood authority, using government funding.

The grant scheme was set up for homes and businesses severely damaged by flooding between 19th and 25th October 2023 – when a month’s rain fell over the course of 18 hours, causing rivers to burst their banks and inundate roads and communities.

Effects of the unprecedented amount of rainfall (80-100mm) falling on already saturated ground were felt across the entire county during the storm, with some rivers seeing their highest ever recorded levels resulting in widespread flooding.

Owners of buildings affected by the floods can apply for money to put resistance measures in place – such as flood doors, barriers and pumps.

The money could also be used for resilience measures, such as water-resistant plaster and replacement of suspended timber floors with solid concrete, to reduce the impact of flooding should it occur and help residents to recover more quickly.

Detailed information about who is eligible, what types of measures are covered and how to apply are available of the county council website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/pfr 

Councillor Charlotte Cupit, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highway Assets and Transport, said: “Storm Babet had a devastating effect on an unprecedented number of homes and businesses across the county in October last year.

“We want to make sure that the owners of properties that were severely affected are supported to put measures in place to help protect their property from further flooding in the future.

“I’d encourage anyone who is eligible and hasn’t yet applied for a Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant to do so as soon as possible before the closing date of 1st August 2024.

“With the deadline for applications for the which is why we welcome this extra money from government to help support those affected for the future. Visit our webpage at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/pfr to find out more.”

Property Flood Resilience Repair Grants are to put measures in place over and above repairs that would normally be covered by insurance. Insurance companies can apply for the grant on behalf of the property owner, with their permission, and a surveyor will need to carry out an inspection of the work once it has been completed to make sure it meets the required standards.

Anyone unable to fill in the application online can call into any Derbyshire library to ask for a paper copy.

Further support for local residents and businesses affected by flooding – including information on mental health support, getting home insurance and flood cover and other useful contacts – is available on the county council’s website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/floodsupport