The Environment Agency is progressing with plans for a £15.7 million flood defence upgrade to the Leigh flood storage area (FSA) for Tonbridge and Hildenborough.
Communities in Tonbridge and Hildenborough are at risk of flooding from the River Medway with flooding occurring in 1960, 1963, 1968, 1974, 2001 and 2013/14.
Following the significant flooding in 1968 the Leigh flood storage area (FSA) was built to reduce the risk of flooding to approximately 1,200 homes and businesses in Tonbridge and Hildenborough.
The FSA is operated to store the peak flows during a flood and along with the Tonbridge town floodwalls, reduces the risk of flooding to Tonbridge and Hildenborough from the River Medway.
The Leigh expansion and Hildenborough embankments scheme is being delivered by the Environment Agency in partnership with Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.
The scheme is part of the Medway Flood Action Plan which was launched on 1 December 2017 and sets out actions that the Medway Flood Partnership will take to reduce the risk of flooding from non-tidal rivers and surface water in the Medway catchment.
The scheme will increase the storage capacity of the existing Leigh FSA to reduce flood risk to approximately 1,430 properties, and also construct an embankment in Hildenborough.
Funding for the £15.7 million scheme has been secured from government, Kent County Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership to enable the project to proceed to the next stage.
Consultation with landowners and key stakeholders is now underway –the detailed design for the scheme will take place in winter 2018. An outline planning application will be submitted in Spring 2019, with construction scheduled for 2020 to 2023.
Whilst the expansion scheme is being developed, the Environment Agency will invest in a programme of engineering works to keep the existing FSA fully operational and compliant with the relevant legislation.
This will include up to £1.3 million of improvements including refurbishments to the Leigh control structure and crest improvements. The works will also feed into the design of the enlargement scheme.
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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