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The Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy


Our coastline is changing, sea levels are rising and climate change is bringing extreme weather conditions more often.

Nearly 400,000 people live or work on low-lying land around the Humber Estuary so it is one of the many places that will be affected by rising sea levels. And with current sea level rise predictions of up to 0.3 metres in the next 50 years and by up to a metre over the next 100 years we need to consider long-term protection of communities and habitats in this area.


Since 1997 we have been studying the Humber Estuary in great detail.


In August 2005, we published our consultation document called "Planning for the Rising Tides" which gave details of the proposed Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy. You can view this document by following the links below.


We have since visited communities and listened to peoples' views and are now launching our Humber Strategy.


The strategy outlines our flood risk management plan for the Humber Estuary for the next 25 years and beyond. In it we make recommendations aimed at ensuring that flood risk is managed in a sustainable way around the estuary. It will look at different ways of managing flood risk; raising defences where appropriate, but also introducing sites for managed realignment and flood storage which will help maintain valuable habitats.


It aims to ensure a good standard of protection from tidal flooding for the next 25 years and beyond for 99 per cent of residents round the estuary and the important industrial areas. However, there are difficult decisions to make as our funds are limited and so we will not be able to improve all the estuary's defences. The documents identify those areas that could be affected and answers some of the questions that may be asked.


If you would like any further information, please email us at: humber.strategy@environment-agency.gov.uk




Managed Realignment: Moving Toward Water Framework Objectives

Climate change will mean sea level is set to rise in the future. Moving back some existing coastal flood defences will help combat this and provide much-needed habitat for animals, birds and plants.

This process is known as managed realignment and has already been successful in and around the Humber Estuary.

This new EU-funded project aims to provide information on the benefits of the managed realignment particularly but not exclusively in relation to EU Directives.

The project is led by the Environment Agency but supported by a wide range of partners across Europe and funded through the LIFE Environment Programme.

We’re involving people, communities and organisations in looking at the benefits this project could bring. We’ve produced a report (PDF, 861kb) for information which has been designed to stimulate debate.

If you have any comments on its contents, please contact John Pygott.