Four new flood defence schemes announced for Humber region

The schemes are the first to be built as a result of the Humber Strategy, a 100 year plan for flood risk management around the estuary. They are part of a partnership the Environment Agency has set up with specialist engineering firm Birse Civils, with design consultants Halcrow and Black & Veatch.

Philip Winn, the manager of the Humber Strategy, said: “This package of work will provide improved protection from flooding to more than 40,000 people – 20,000 in East Yorkshire and 20,000 in North Lincolnshire.

“By awarding a large contract in this way we plan to save money, and we expect to complete the individual schemes for substantially less than the budgets quoted.”

Swinefleet, near Goole, and Brough, between Goole and Hull, are the two sites north of the Humber, with two more locations in north Lincolnshire. It is hoped that all work will be completed by 2011.

The Swinefleet scheme is valued at £11.9M and is part of a system of defences for a wider area. The work will improve flood protection from the Humber and the Ouse for:

• over 9,400 homes and 1,200 commercial properties;
• Keadby Power Station;
• three sewage treatment works;
• two railway lines and three stations;
• the A614 and A616;
• the M18 motorway.

The scheme will involve work over a kilometre of the existing embankment, including sheet piles, raising, widening and repairing some sections. Planning permission is expected within the next month, and it is planned to start work this summer.

The Brough scheme will cost £5.8M and should improve flood protection from the Humber for over 430 homes and 25 commercial properties, along with the British Aerospace (BAe) site.

The scheme is likely to include the construction or improvement of around 2,200 metres of defences, a new outfall and improvements to two other outfalls.

The Environment Agency has commissioned environmental surveys to help prepare for a planning application later in the year. A public consultation on the proposals is planned for this summer. This will be followed by detailed designs, and it is hoped to start work next year.

The flood alleviation schemes in north Lincolnshire are:

Stallingborough, between Grimsby and Immingham, which will cost £7.7M, and improve flood protection for 11,500 domestic and commercial properties, including a power station, a chemical works and Immingham Docks. Contractors are already on site.

Halton Marshes, East Halton – the total cost of this two-stage project is £10.6M. The first stage is due to start this spring, and will improve protection for the existing industry based around the port.