The Environment Agency project will improve 3.7km of the 9km existing defences, and follows on from work carried out in 2007 when other parts of the defences were improved.
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We're proud to be delivering better flood protection for the people of Burton. The recent high river levels are a timely reminder of why this work to protect 4,500 homes and over 1,000 businesses from flooding is essential.
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"From the rain the other week, we saw The Washlands flooded, with water coming up to the flood defences. Without the existing defences, parts of the town would have flooded, we last saw levels like this in 2000, 2007 and 2012."
Contractors Galliford Try/Black & Veatch are working with the Environment Agency to deliver the project.
Work has commenced at Blackpool Street and at Paget High School, with work due to start at the library and leisure centre in the coming weeks.
(CM/JG)
