The Environment Agency says that after re-assessing a flood scheme in York a section of road will need to be closed, but for six months less than planned.

The Environment Agency submitted a planning application in March 2019 with its proposals to better protect Clementhorpe from flooding. It forms part of the £45 million provided by the government to York after the devastating flooding of Boxing Day 2015 - December 2015 was the wettest calendar month since records began in 1910.

A spokesperson said that due to significant public safety concerns it would not be possible to keep a section of Terry Avenue open, between Skeldergate Bridge and Dukes Wharf, while flood defence work takes place.

Under the original plans, the road needed to be closed because the machinery required to install an eight metre deep wall of concrete piles under Terry Avenue to stop water ingress during flooding was too large to safely keep access open.

The Agency has now found a suitable alternative solution following an investigation into the viability of using a method known as grout injection to stop the water ingress.

This means that the work is expected to take one year, rather than 18 months, and will not require large pile driver machinery so will be less intrusive to residents living nearby.

Environment Agency project director Ben Hughes said:

“It is great news that a new less invasive solution, and one that takes six months less time, has been found. This will cause significantly less disruption to people than would otherwise have been the case.”

He added that significant preparatory work is needed before the underground grouting can take place, meaning large scale excavation is required along the narrow river frontage.

Records show that on average, the flood levels in the centre of York have been increasing annually over the last century - which means that over time the level of protection offered by York's flood defences is decreasing.

This trend is forecast to continue with climate change and current land usage patterns. According to the Agency, in 100 years' time the flood defences in York will need to be 80 centimetres higher just to offer the current standard of protection unless the flow upstream can be slowed.