Reducing the risk of flooding at Hesketh Out Marsh East
Updated 31 October 2014
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2014
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Since 2008 the Environment Agency, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Natural England have been working to create the Hesketh Out Marsh East (HOME) scheme. The scheme, which is near Preston and Southport, is designed to reduce the risk of flooding on the south side of the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire, without increasing the risk elsewhere.
The scheme will work by building a new embankment. When the original sea embankment is breached, this will form 3.5 square kilometres of saltmarsh in front of the new embankment This will provide habitat for wildlife and an area for local people to enjoy. Following planning permission, in spring 2014, work started on site in July 2014.
Climate change and Hesketh Out Marsh
Hesketh Out Marsh has been identified as part of the Shoreline Management Plan (2011) as a coastal realignment scheme that can adapt to climate change and rising sea levels in the future. The scheme will help to reduce the future risk of flooding to over 100 properties and farm land to the south of the marsh.
Working with the local community
In May 2013, the Environment Agency held a community drop-in session. This gave residents the opportunity to find out about the scheme and ask questions to the team working on the scheme. A planning application was submitted in September 2013.
The solution: to reduce the risk of flooding at Hesketh Out Marsh East
This scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to over 140 properties and farmland to the south by strengthening the existing flood embankment and by re-creating saltmarsh in front of it. When breached the saltmarsh will absorb the energy of the seas waves and will provide habitat for wildlife. Work will continue until 2017 when breaching of the outer bank should be possible to allow the flood defence system to operate fully.
This project has been nominated for a Best Practice Award in Climate Change Adaptation at the 3rd biennial North West Awards for Coastal Excellence.
Contact
For more information please e-mail Richard.Shirres@environment-agency.gov.uk or call 03708 506 506