On 2 February 2026, Devon County Council announced a county-wide flood recovery financial support scheme to help people in Torquay and across South Devon repair homes and shops after heavy flooding caused by Storm Ingrid and Storm Chandra in late January.
Homeowners and small business owners can apply for up to £5,000 through the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant to fund a professional survey and to purchase recommended resilience measures — for example, flood-resistant doors, raising electrical sockets, and non-return (non-return) valves. Under the scheme, payments for surveys and works are normally made to the approved surveyor or supplier rather than being paid directly to the property owner.
There is also an Emergency Resilience grant of up to £1,500 for immediate equipment needs and small community projects; this smaller fund has an initial window for small-scale works applications that is set to close at the end of March 2026. The scheme is being coordinated through a county-wide framework led by Devon County Council and supported by Torbay Council and the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to ensure support reaches hard-hit neighbourhoods including Torbay Road, Meadfoot and Livermead.
The government’s Property Flood Resilience framework, which underpins the scheme, aims to help residents make their properties more resilient to future flooding rather than simply carrying out like-for-like repairs. To qualify for funding, applicants typically must show that water entered the lived-in parts of their home or the occupied workspace of their business and provide a professional survey recommending appropriate measures.
Local leaders said the grants are an important step in recovery, while affected residents and business owners described the recent damage as “soul-destroying” — a remark attributed in local reporting to an anonymous Torquay pub owner. Residents needing help with the application process can find guidance on the council websites; council officers say the first round of small works applications will close at the end of March 2026.
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