Hull’s new Humber frontage flood defences which provide greater protection to 113,000 homes and businesses, as well as local infrastructure and other public amenities are being officially opened.
The £42 million scheme is an investment that makes the city more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
On December 5, 2013, the east coast experienced a serious tidal surge, causing devastating flooding in Hull and communities along the banks of the Humber.
The highest ever tide (5.8m) was recorded at the Hull Barrier.
The Humber: Hull frontages flood defence scheme, is just one of a series of projects that have been completed to help reduce flood risk in and around Hull, and make communities more resilient to flooding.
Funding for the scheme to upgrade the tidal flood defences along the estuary shoreline of the city came from Defra’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid with a £3 million contribution from Highways England (now National Highways).
Humber Hull Frontages flood defence scheme
The defences now provide a standard of protection that reduces flood risk to a 0.5% chance in any given year.
The project covers around 7km of shoreline, out of a total frontage length of about 12km, from St Andrew’s Quay Retail Park in the west, through St Andrew’s Dock, William Wright Dock, Albert Dock, Victoria Pier and through Victoria Dock Village in the east.
Construction work by contractors BMMJV, BAM Nuttall and Mott Macdonald, started in the St Andrew’s Quay Retail Park in January 2019 following completion of the design, and major works were finished in December 2021.
The project connects with other flood defence improvements which have been built along the Humber by East Riding Council; east of Hull at Paull and to the west of the city at Hessle.
Humber Hull Frontages defences at Victoria Pier, Hull
The project is being officially opened by the chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard Boyd and Minister Rebecca Pow.
Rebecca Pow, Floods Minister, said:
“This scheme – supported by £39 million of Defra funding – is a crucial step forward in helping to prevent a repeat of the devastating flooding in 2013 and ensuring that Hull is resilient to the effects of climate change.
“We have invested more in Yorkshire and the Humber than any other region – with over £146 million allocated for investment in new flood and coastal defences this year, and over half a billion pounds invested since 2015.”
