Scotland launches £15m fund to bolster flood-hit communities

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-02 09:55 3 min read

Rough waves crashing against the stone pier at Aberdeen harbour during a stormy day.

A new £15 million Scottish Government investment package will support communities across Scotland that are most at risk from flooding. Spread over three years, the funding is intended to help local groups, communities and councils improve preparedness, strengthen existing flood infrastructure and deliver practical measures that reduce local risk.

The announcement covers community-led work, nature-based drainage, coastal protection, support for places recovering from recent floods, better risk data and assistance with major flood protection schemes. However, individual awards and detailed application criteria have not yet been published.

Targeted support for flood-prone communities

The package is aimed at areas where people, homes and livelihoods face the greatest flood risk. Local groups and authorities will be able to seek support, although the Scottish Government has not yet confirmed which communities will receive funding or how applications will be assessed.

Additional help will be available for communities recovering from recent flooding. Coastal settlements are also a priority, with the programme supporting innovative projects that replenish sand dunes and reduce flood risk. Montrose is identified in the announcement as an example of a town that could benefit from this type of coastal resilience work.

The reference to Montrose illustrates the kind of pressure the fund is designed to address, but it does not amount to a complete list of approved locations. Further places and projects are expected to become clearer when the implementation plan is released.

Which projects could qualify for support

Funding will cover sustainable drainage measures, including natural features such as green spaces and planting. These projects can help manage water more effectively while making existing flood infrastructure better prepared for future conditions.

The package may therefore support a range of work, from locally led resilience projects to larger infrastructure improvements. Coastal measures such as restoring or replenishing dunes also fall within its scope. The announcement does not yet specify award sizes, application deadlines or the evidence local groups will need to provide.

Scotland launches £15m fund to bolster flood-hit communities

How better data could direct protection

Public Health Scotland will develop an interactive tool combining flood-risk information with population and demographic data. Bringing those datasets together is intended to help authorities identify not only where flooding is more likely, but also which communities and groups could be most exposed.

That could give decision-makers a clearer basis for targeting resilience work. The announcement does not confirm how the tool will influence individual funding decisions, so its practical effect will depend on how authorities use the information once it becomes available.

A new Flood Advisory Service will separately help councils deliver major flood protection schemes. Its purpose is to provide support that reduces delays and improves value for public money, particularly where complex projects require specialist guidance.

When local funding will become available

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action Gillian Martin said the £15 million package delivers on the government’s 100-day commitment to invest in flood mitigation and prevention. It complements the wider Flood Resilience Strategy and is intended to protect people, homes and livelihoods through community projects, improved infrastructure and more effective protection schemes.

Preparatory work is taking place this year, with funding for local projects due to become available next year. The next confirmed milestone is the forthcoming Flood Resilience Strategy Implementation Plan, which will set out further details about the programme. Until then, communities and councils do not yet have confirmed application criteria or a published timetable for individual awards.

Source: Scottish Government News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Official Government Update

This report is based on the official announcement from the Scottish Government regarding their new Flood Resilience Strategy.

Checks