With 153 homes and 288 businesses currently at risk of flooding on the west bank of the River Itchen, Southampton City Council (SCC) will discuss investing millions in the ‘River Itchen Flood Alleviation Scheme’ at meetings next week.
Photo: Google Maps
Article continues after this message...
As well as homes and businesses, the current flood risk also affects “short sections of mainline railway, parts of the A3024 Northam Road, and various critical infrastructure sites” such as electrical sub-stations and pumping stations, says a report to councillors [pdf].
Under consideration will be creating a more effective “frontline defence” at Drivers Wharf near Northam Bridge, where SCC owns around 45% of the land, including part of an “existing quay wall that is “at risk of failure within 10 years”.
Photo: Google Maps
This apparently “will reduce flood risk to the whole site and eliminate the requirement for a 2nd scheme within the next 10 years.”
SCC’s Cabinet (November 15 from 6pm) and full Council (November 17 from 4pm) are due to discuss contributing £3m into an Environment Agency-led scheme, which will unlock £32.5m Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management external grant funding.
A further £7.2m is also needed “to change the alignment of the defence at Drivers Wharf and enable the replacement of the failing SCC owned quay wall”.
The £10.2m council investment will be funded by “Strategic CIL [Community Infrastructure Levy] developer contributions”, says the report – which also alarmingly reveals that by 2120 the flood risk increases to 1,167 homes and 1,033 businesses, with potential flood depths of up to 1.8m.