The Environment Agency has submitted a planning application for a £42 million Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme to provide better protection from flooding for 113,000 homes and businesses at risk from tidal flooding.
Image of Hull's flood defence scheme proposed for Victoria Dock Village East
Proposals for the £multi-million Environment Agency-led scheme to protect thousands of properties from flooding from the Humber has been put forward to Hull’s planning chiefs. Planning permission is being sought for the scheme to improve a 7-8 kilometre stretch of tidal flood defences in the Humber Estuary.
If the scheme gets planning approval, work will start at the end of the year and will be completed by the end of 2020.
Nine sites have been identified as part of the scheme including St Andrew’s Quay, Albert Dock and Victoria Dock Village for improved defences.
Contractor BMM JV – a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald – has been appointed to develop a detailed design and build plan along Hull’s tidal waterfront to help improve flood risk along the city’s 19 kilometre waterfront.
In the past 65 years, there have been three major tidal events in Hull, the last was in December 2013 when 264 properties were flooded due to the overtopping of the existing defences.
Water levels have potential to rise to around 1 to 3 metres above some parts of the city during high tides
During high tides, water levels have the potential to rise to around 1 to 3 metres above some parts of the city.
Over the last few years, the Environment Agency has reviewed the existing Humber flood defences from Fleet Drain to the west of the city, through Hull, to Lord’s Clough in the east. The work has identified the nine sites where work is now being proposed.
Helen Tattersdale, project manager at the Environment Agency, said:
“It is vital for Hull to have improved defences to protect against the potential devastating tidal flooding from the Humber Estuary.
“This investment has enabled us to assess a significant length of the current flood defence walls and embankments that run along the Hull frontage to come up with a scheme that will better protect the city both now and in the future taking into account climate change.”
“Over the past few months, we have been gathering feedback on aspects of the design from local residents and landowners, and other interested organisations including Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Hull City Council which have been taken into account in our proposals.”
The improvements in Hull are supported by a further four kilometres (2.5 mile) of new and raised tidal defences on either side of the city in the East Riding of Yorkshire, at Hessle and Paull, delivered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in partnership with the Environment Agency.
The Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme is one of a number of tidal flood alleviation projects that form part of the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy. The Environment Agency and local partners are now in the process of developing an advanced approach to managing flooding in tidal areas by the River Humber for the next 100 years.
Waterbriefing is media partner with the upcoming Flood Expo , which is supported by the Environment Agency. The Expo takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from 12th to 13th September 2018. Click here for more information about the Expo and to register for free tickets
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