Hull to get £42m flood defence scheme

Plans for a multi-million scheme to protect thousands of properties in Hull from flooding from the Humber have been drawn up.

Planning permission is being sought for a £42 million Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme to improve a five mile stretch of tidal flood defences in the Humber Estuary.

Led by the Environment Agency, the scheme has been designed to protect 113,000 homes and businesses that are at risk from flooding.

If approved, 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.

Contractor BMM JV – a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald – are set to deliver the project which will help improve flood risk along the city’s 12 mile waterfront.

Over the past 65 years, there have been three major tidal events in Hull, the last was in December 2013 when 264 properties were flooded.

During high tides, water levels can rise to three 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.

This 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.”

These improvements in Hull are supported by a further 2.5 miles 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.