New scheme to protect village near Hull hit by flooding
A major new £13.7m flood alleviation scheme is to be built in Bilton
Work on a major new £13.7m flood alleviation scheme in East Yorkshire could begin in early 2027.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has announced the project in Bilton, near Hull, after securing funding from the Government.
The scheme involves the construction of a number of lagoons, embankments and watercourses around the village to help reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
The village has had multiple flood events in the past, with a number of properties affected during downpours in 2007.
Work will now be subject to the council securing planning permission and obtaining the necessary permissions and consents.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s portfolio holder for environment and climate change, said: “I’m extremely pleased we’ve been able to secure funding for this vital scheme designed to help shield the residents and businesses in Bilton from the devastation of flooding.
“This project will join the other multi-million-pound flood alleviation schemes we have already built across the East Riding which have proved essential in diverting floodwater from communities when it rains heavily.
“The likelihood of flooding is only going to get worse, so working together with Yorkshire Water and our other Living With Water partners on this scheme and the others planned is more important than ever.”
Professor Colin Mellors, chair of the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, said: “The committee is very pleased to support this important scheme, which will better protect 188 residential and 11 non-residential properties from future flooding in Bilton.
“Through the creative deployment of a number of interventions, it is intended to help reduce the flood risks that affect this area, and which will only increase with climate change.
“It is also another example of the successful partnership approach to addressing flood risk that exists across East Yorkshire”.
Emma Brown, Living with Water general manager and strategic partnerships manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “We’re thrilled to be working as part of Living with Water to build flood resilience in Bilton.
“This success in securing funding brings into the spotlight the need for more joint working in the future to mitigate against climate change and the present threat of flooding we have in this part of the word.”