£25m Greatham flood alleviation scheme given the green light

A £25m flood alleviation scheme at Greatham in the North East has been given the green light. The Environment Agency project will reduce flood risk for Hartlepool, help combat coastal erosion and give better flood protection to nationally important industry and infrastructure.

Construction is due to start in early 2027 and last about two years. The scheme is designed to help manage flood risk over the next 50 years. It is part of the wider £30m Tees Tidelands Programme, which aims to realign flood defences, restore intertidal and river habitats, and reconnect tributaries and local communities with the estuary.

The work includes building a new 1.5km embankment at Greenabella Marsh and then breaching the existing Greenabella embankment. Clay for the new embankment will be dug from Marsh House Farm, nearby land owned by the Environment Agency, which will then become a saline lagoon. Repairs are also planned on the Greatham Creek embankment. Structural investigation found both the Greatham Creek and Greenabella embankments are in poor condition and difficult to maintain because they were built from slag boulders, a by-product of industry, in the late 19th century.

A large area of mudflats and saltmarsh on the Tees Estuary will also be restored, providing habitat for wildlife and capturing tonnes of carbon each year. This habitat has been lost over the past 200 years due to industrialisation, and it is estimated that less than 10% of the original intertidal habitats remain.

Joe Reed, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said the project "will improve the area's resilience to the changing climate" and help people reconnect with nature. He said work would continue on the licences and consents needed before construction starts, along with engagement with landowners. The scheme has support from local industry and nature conservation bodies including Natural England and the RSPB.