Why the Humber
Flood resilience
By Living with Water
The combination of topography, geography and an interconnected drainage system makes the region unique in terms of flood risk. This underpins the essential need for Risk Management Authorities (RMA) to work together. Local authorities are all in partnership with the Environment Agency, each of whom have responsibilities for managing flood risk in the area.
Hull and East Riding Blue Green Plan
The aspiration of the LWW Partnership is to create a city that thrives with water and key to achieving this is the introduction of sustainable solutions that manage water visibly on the surface. The long-term ambition of LWW is to deliver a holistic solution that balances blue-green and grey infrastructure to manage surface water in the city. The most optimal solution for the communities that live here is one which is co-developed and co-delivered, and one that can be replicated around the whole estuarial region.
With investment approaching £60m in the period 2015 to 2021, schemes including the Humber Hull Frontage, Hessle Foreshore and Paull Tidal Defence investments have helped reduce the risk of tidal flooding. In addition, another £90m is being invested to reduce the risk of fluvial flooding, on projects including the River Hull Defences and Holderness Drain schemes.
There is similar collaboration and investments south of the Humber throughout North and North East Lincolnshire, with the local authorities working closely with the Environment Agency to build a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the area. This targets areas such as the Lincolnshire Lakes, Roxby, Keadby, Barton, Brigg, Redbourne and Goxhill. These collaborations have provided modelling and detailed alleviation proposal for both river and surface flood risk, addressing risks to communities and businesses.
Over the last six years, partners have developed tools to better understand the risk of flooding in the Hull and Humber area. Advanced modelling has provided a basis to develop and test multiple solutions to manage surface water. The urban drainage multi-agency model that has also helped authorities to understand risk ownership within the area.
Hull City Council has delivered a series of AquaGreens (small scale water retention areas which also provide public amenity such as football pitches) across the city to manage excess flows in key risk areas. Collectively the LWW Partnership has already successfully implemented policy change in terms of greater restriction on surface water discharges from new development. The Supplementary Planning Document that resulted from this work is the first of its kind in the country.
The next step for the LWW Partnership is to commission a study to focus on a holistic city-wide solution that addresses surface water flooding. The study which will focus on both extreme and frequent flooding events, will ensure a sustainable and adaptable solution, seeking to include natural flood management, larger scale sustainable drainage systems and regeneration alongside more traditional grey infrastructure. The study will propose the most effective delivery of a city scale solution, highlighting locations and solutions for short, medium and long term.
The primary objective of the study is to create an opportunities map which will look at both existing and planned infrastructure to identify the most appropriate water sensitive urban design at a city-wide scale. Future aspirations of the city in terms of growth and diversification will be considered alongside model outputs to determine the most comprehensive solution to reduce flood risk. The study will identify opportunities to utilise existing areas of green space, road networks and housing stock to create attenuation and reuse opportunities alongside more traditional engineering solutions.
North Lincolnshire Council Flood Alleviation Works
Lincolnshire Lakes Flood Defence Scheme:
- 8km of 17m long steel sheet piles have been installed between the M180 embankment and the King George IV bridge (Keadby Bridge)
- Height reinstated to the Environmental Agency’s blue book level
- Protects existing communities along the River Trent, but also enables future development
Improving flood resilience locally including against surface water flooding (North Lincolnshire Council working with the Environmental Agency):
Roxby
Site visit undertaken with North Lincolnshire Council officers and consultants. A number of potential flood issues have been identified. The next stage will be to obtain a channel survey to allow a hydraulic model to be built to begin optioneering.
Keadby
A hydraulic model has been constructed and initial results produced. A further site visit is required to review results and confirm locations for potential sustainable drainage system options, before optioneering can be completed. A £20,000 allocation is available from the Local Levy to keep pushing this forward in conjunction with Severn Trent Water.
Barton
Data collection and review completed, site visit required to define scope and modelling approach. £60,000 funding has been allocated for study/modelling work from the Environment Agency. Further funding for construction may be allocated depending on the result of the study works and Outline Business Case produced from this but will also require contribution from North Lincolnshire Council.
Brigg
Data collection and review completed, site visit required to define scope and modelling approach. £60,000 funding has been allocated for study/modelling work from the Environment Agency. Further funding for construction may be allocated depending on the result of the study works and Outline Business Case produced from this. However, this will also require contribution from North Lincolnshire Council.
Redbourne
Modelling and study completed. Detailed design is almost complete and dates for construction will be issued following consultation with the Parish/Ward Members soon.
Goxhill
Funding has been granted following submission of an outline business case to the Environment Agency, North Lincolnshire Council will have to contribute a further £225,000. Four out of the seven new flood alleviation proposals have been assessed and have completed detailed design. Once the further three areas have been assessed the council can start programming works. It is hoped these works will follow on from the Redbourne scheme later this financial year.
These are huge projects which will address surface water flood risk on a settlement basis, as opposed to smaller schemes.
Killingholme Pumping Station - ABLE Marine Energy Park
A new pumping station and other drainage infrastructure will be built to facilitate further development of the South Humber Bank, creating 1,500 new jobs. Read more here:
https://www.business-live.co.uk/ports-logistics/able-uk-chief-welcomes-43m-18734002
North East Lincolnshire Council Flood Strategy
North East Lincolnshire Councils continues to develop a series of projects and initiatives to prevent and mitigate the impact of flooding. Read more here: https://www.nelincs.gov.uk/environment-and-community-safety/emergency-planning-and-flooding/flooding/flood-strategies-investigations/
References
Report: Coulthard, T., Frostick, L., Hardcastle, H., Jones, K., Rogers, D., Scott, M., & Bankoff, G. (2007). The June 2007 floods in Hull. Final Report by the Independent Review Body, 21st November. Coulthard.org, Hull.
Report: Arup 2018 Hull CWRF Background Report. Report for City Water Resilience Assessment. Arup, SIWI, The Resilience Shift, The Rockefeller Foundation, London.
Report: Environment Agency 2010 The cost of the 2007 floods in England Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme. EA, Bristol
