Surrey towns on the Thames are set to receive a massive £270 million boost to their flood defences, Surrey County Council (SCC) have announced.

The new funding is expected to arrive thanks to a new scheme forged between the Environment Agency (EA) and SCC.

The total funding includes a contribution to the River Thames Scheme, which will reduce flood risk to 15,000 properties and tens of thousands of people living and working near the Thames.

It is expected to be approved at an upcoming council meeting next Tuesday (October 29).

SCC said that a group of towns situated on or near the Thames will see their flood defences improved, with an estimated 15,000 properties set to be better defended against flood risk thanks to the scheme.

Communities in Egham, Staines, Chertsey, Shepperton, Weybridge, Sunbury, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Kingston and Teddington would all benefit from the funding, SCC said.

SCC Leader Tim Oliver cited the devastating 2014 floods in the region as he praised the council's expected approval of the new funding to shore up flood defences along the Thames going forward.

"The floods in 2014 were devastating for Surrey and ever since then it’s been clear we need to do all we can to make sure our residents and their properties are protected from such risks in the future.

"That’s why it’s vital that work such as the Surrey Flood Alleviation Programme gets the funding it needs.

"As well as developing a programme of flood works across the county it will make sure that the River Thames Scheme can proceed," he said.

The River Thames Scheme will create three flood alleviation channels alongside the River Thames and improve capacity at three weirs.

It's entire length will run from Datchet in Berkshire, through Surrey to Teddington.

SCC added that the scheme would also "support a greener future, with four country parks created as well as 23km of new footways and cycle paths."

The new SCC funding is also expected to include a £33 million "jointly-funded" sum to spend over 10 years on flood alleviation projects and other actions to minimise the impact of flooding on homes, businesses and infrastructure across the county.

The council is proposing to borrow some of the money as well as developing a masterplan to identify long term opportunities to help fund the works – such as new eco-communities with housing and employment on land unlocked by the River Thames Scheme.

The EA's Chief Executive Sir James Bevan welcomed the news:

"The River Thames scheme is a vital project which will see thousands of homes, businesses and vital infrastructure better protected from flooding for decades to come.

"The huge scale of this project demonstrates what can be achieved when partners come together to achieve a common goal of helping to protect communities and boosting the local economy whilst also establishing a lasting green legacy for the area," he said.