North East innovative projects to protect against flooding successful in securing funding

5 of the 6 Innovative Coastal and Flood Resilience North East bids submitted by the Environment Agency regional team have been successful. 

• Northumberland – A project aiming to improve the flood resilience of at least six rural communities using a range of solutions, including testing and developing an enhanced flood warning system. This will be delivered using artificial intelligence and new sensor technology.
• South Tyneside – A project to support coastal adaptation by working along the north-east coastline, to undertake a number of activities including restoration of sub-tidal habitats (such as kelp beds, oyster reefs and sea grass) to protect against coastal erosion and flooding. The project learning will benefit the whole North East coastline.
• Stockton-on-Tees: To bolster resilience to coastal flooding through several activities, including creating new habitats such as saltmarshes and mudflats and trialling a ‘habitat bank’ to enable developers to invest in nature and resilience. The project will contribute to local economic regeneration by protecting coastal communities.
• County Durham – The council plans to develop a new approach to designing, delivering and monitoring sustainable drainage systems, such as raingardens, smart butts and street trees. This will include inviting UK based SMEs to run competitions to find innovative solutions to community sustainable drainage.
• Gateshead – Historic coal mining has impacted groundwater in urbanised areas of Northumbria. The project will use the latest monitoring technology to measure groundwater levels and trial a groundwater flood warning service. This trial will inform the case for developing a national ground water warning service.

That is an additional £12 million over the next 5 years to support estuarine and coastal habitat restoration, develop sustainable options for up-scaling, and connect communities.

A full list of the projects can be found here;

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/innovative-projects-to-protect-against-flooding-selected