Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommend to Council: -

Approval of the allocation of £7.3m to the Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the Financial Year 2025/26.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley presented the report on the Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme – CIL Funding Proposal and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED that Council approved the allocation of £7.3m to the Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the Financial Year 2025/26.

Voting: For:51, Against:1, Abstentions:6

Poole town centre is at considerable flood risk which will increase over time with the effects of climate change. This Scheme is the preferred option from the approved Poole Bay, Poole Harbour and Wareham, Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (2014). The strategy identified that within Central Poole Cell there were 573 properties at flood risk in the present day 1% AEP event, rising to over 2,000 properties at flood risk by 2110.

Flood defence schemes have been completed from Baiter to Poole Bridge, delivered by the Environment Agency (EA) and Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC). However, the area remains at risk due to the ageing infrastructure between Poole Bridge and Hunger Hill. BCP Council is responsible for and leading on a proposal for tidal flood defences on the remaining frontage.

The current policy of flood defence delivery through regeneration and private development has not provided the required level of investment and protection. Our proposal is to deliver via a single BCP Council led scheme, working in liaison with the various landowners.

The costs to build the defences are estimated at circa £29m for delivery of all primary works in a single phase. The scheme has secured £15.95m of Flood defence Grant in Aid and has submitted a bid for a further £6.5m to the Environment Agency. Cabinet has considered the Strategic Prioritisation of CIL on 05 March 2025, of which this scheme is a principal project and £7.3m is being proposed from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommend to Council: -

Approval of the allocation of £7.3m to the Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the Financial Year 2025/26.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reasons

1.  Delivers on our commitment through the approved business case to meet Defra targets to protect households from flooding.

2.  Reduces the flood risk for West Quay Road, Old Town and parts of the Town Centre in Poole

3.  Essential for progressing future development in the Twin Sails Regeneration Area, contributing to delivery of the Local Plan.

4.  Positive public realm, sustainable transport, and place shaping consistency across the central area of the Poole.

5.  Ease viability issues, unlocking land for much needed housing, contributing to council targets.

6.  Present day value of damages in a ‘do-nothing’ scenario is £161m and with a proposed scheme cost of around £29m, the cost-benefit ratio is over 5.5 to 1.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that Poole town centre is at considerable flood risk which will increase over time with the effects of climate change, and that this Scheme is the preferred option from the approved Poole Bay, Poole Harbour and Wareham, Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (2014).

Cabinet was informed that the strategy identified that within Central Poole Cell there were 573 properties at flood risk in the present day 1% AEP event, rising to over 2,000 properties at flood risk by 2110.

Cabinet was advised that flood defence schemes have been completed from Baiter to Poole Bridge, delivered by the Environment Agency (EA) and Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC), but that the area remains at risk due to the ageing infrastructure between Poole Bridge and Hunger Hill, and that BCP Council is responsible for and leading on a proposal for tidal flood defences on the remaining frontage.

Cabinet was informed that the current policy of flood defence delivery through regeneration and private development has not provided the required level of investment and protection, and that our proposal is to deliver via a single BCP Council led scheme, working in liaison with the various landowners.

Cabinet was advised that the costs to build the defences are estimated at circa £29m for delivery of all primary works in a single phase, and that the scheme has secured £15.95m of Flood defence Grant in Aid and has submitted a bid for a further £6.5m to the Environment Agency.

Further to this Cabinet was advised that Cabinet had considered the Strategic Prioritisation of CIL on 05 March 2025, of which this scheme is a principal project and £7.3m is being proposed from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommend to Council: -

Approval of the allocation of £7.3m to the Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill Flood Defence Scheme from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) for the Financial Year 2025/26.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reasons

1.  Delivers on our commitment through the approved business case to meet Defra targets to protect households from flooding.

2.  Reduces the flood risk for West Quay Road, Old Town and parts of the Town Centre in Poole

3.  Essential for progressing future development in the Twin Sails Regeneration Area, contributing to delivery of the Local Plan.

4.  Positive public realm, sustainable transport, and place shaping consistency across the central area of the Poole.

5.  Ease viability issues, unlocking land for much needed housing, contributing to council targets.

6.  Present day value of damages in a ‘do-nothing’ scenario is £161m and with a proposed scheme cost of around £29m, the cost-benefit ratio is over 5.5 to 1.