Environment Minister Launches Hull Flood Alleviation Scheme

Construction of one of the biggest flood defense schemes in the country was officially launched by the Environment Minister in Hull on Thursday, 16 May.

The £42 million Hull Frontage Flood Defense scheme will see the height of defenses raised along more than 4 miles of the Humber foreshore from St Andrew’s Quay and Victoria Dock Village.

Led by the Environment Minister, the project will better protect 113,000 properties from tidal flooding, providing a 1 in 200 year standard of protection.

Environment Minister Dr Thérèse Coffey said: “I am pleased to be in Hull to launch the government-funded £42 million Humber: Hull Frontage Flood Defense Improvement scheme.”

Neil Longden, Flood Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said: “It was a pleasure to show the Minister this important flood defense project and explain other flood alleviation work being done in the city and in East Yorkshire.”

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.

Allan Rogers, Framework Director for BMMJV said: “This £42 million investment links to a further £16 million investment in tidal flood defenses either side of Hull at Paull and Hessle, which is being delivered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.”

Both the Humber Hull Frontage and work by East Riding of Yorkshire Council at Hessle and Paull are part 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.