Construction of a multi-million pound scheme to protect thousands of homes and businesses in Hull from flooding from the Humber has been given the go ahead, informs the Environment Agency.
The £42 million flood alleviation scheme, approved by Hull’s planning committee earlier this month, has now had final sign off from the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Led by the EA, the Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme will upgrade tidal flood defenses at eight locations along the estuary foreshore, including at St Andrew’s Quay and Victoria Dock Village.
The defenses will provide a 1 in 200 year standard of protection and will reduce tidal risk for 113,000 homes and businesses. It will see more than 7 kilometers of tidal flood defenses along the Humber estuary improved.
Now that the planning application has been approved, preliminary work is due to start at St Andrew’s Quay Retail Park early this year.
Floods Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “ This new flood defense scheme costing £42 million from taxpayers’ money has been well supported by the City Council and a number of other key partners, showing what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal. ”
Helen Tattersdale, Project Manager at the Environment Agency added: “ This £42 million investment is great news for the city as it will allow us to better protect thousands of homes and businesses. We will continue to keep residents and businesses affected by our work informed about the scheme at every stage of its development. ”
The scheme will be delivered by contractor BMM JV – a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald – and is expected to be completed by March 2021.