Environment Agency to boost natural flood management after pilots

In Sutton, Greater London, sustainable urban drainage systems prevent more than four hectares of hard surfaces sending rainwater into the River Wandle. Photograph: Andy Pietrasik

Low-tech “natural” flood management such as using natural materials to slow river flow and storing flood water on meadows will play a key role in preventing future floods, according to the chief executive of the Environment Agency.

Sixty pilot natural flood management projects have helped protect 15,000 homes and create storage for up to 1.6m cubic metres of flood water, while also helping nature recovery on 380 miles (610km) of river and on 4,000 hectares of wetlands and woodlands.