Agenda item

Poole town centre is at considerable flood risk which will increase over time with the effects of climate change. Recent schemes have been completed from Baiter to Poole Bridge, delivered by both 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 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. Our proposal is to deliver via a single scheme, led by the council, working in liaison with the various landowners.

The costs to build the defences are estimated at circa £12m for delivery of all primary works in a single phase. The OBC confirms it is all eligible via Flood Defence Grant in Aid.

This is implementing the preferred option from the (2014) Poole Bay, Poole Harbour and Wareham, Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy (PWFRMS). This approved strategy identified that within Central Poole Cell there are 573 properties at flood risk in the present day 1% AEP event, rising to over 2,000 properties at flood risk by 2110.

The preferred option is for a new quay wall between the bridges and a crown wall in addition to the existing defences north of RNLI, along with some localised land raising and flood gates around the RNLI site. The most economic approach allows for adaptive phasing, with minor additional works (~£836k) planned for 2071 and 2105. The OBC currently states BCP will underwrite the cost of the future phases.

The scheme should be a catalyst for future development along West Quay Road, and public realm enhancement, identified in the Local Plan (2018), also providing continuous pedestrian and cycle access from the Town Quay to Holes Bay. New quay wall heights and public walkways will be consistent with any redevelopment of the power station site on the opposite side of Backwater Channel.

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

Cabinet were advised that Poole town centre is at considerable flood risk which will increase over time with the effects of climate change. Further to this Cabinet were informed that recent schemes had been completed from Baiter to Poole Bridge, delivered by both 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 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. Our proposal is to deliver via a single scheme, led by the council, working in liaison with the various landowners.

RECOMMENDED that:-

a)         Cabinet approves submission of an Outline Business Case to the Environment Agency’s Large Projects Review Group (LPRG) to seek circa £12m Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) to construct tidal flood defences from Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill. LPRG is provisionally booked for Oct 2020;

b)         Cabinet approves that BCP Council adopt the new flood defence assets and commit to fund future maintenance costs (estimated £303k over 85 years);

c)         Cabinet approves for BCP to underwrite the costs, identified in the OBC, for adaptation measures for future phases of construction within the business case – estimated at a total of £836k in years 2071 and 2105; and

d)         Delegate authority to the Director for Growth and Infrastructure in consultation with the Section 151 and Monitoring Officers to agree the terms of any funding and/or supplier agreement(s)

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Environment and Climate Change