A scheme designed to protect thousands of homes in Hull and the East Riding from flooding has won a prestigious award.
The Anlaby and East Ella Flood Alleviation Scheme (AAEFAS) has been awarded Highly Commended status in the national Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards Grand Final.
RICS is the world’s leading professional body for infrastructure and construction, and promotes the highest international standards within this industry.
The £22m scheme helps to shield more than 4,000 homes and businesses in the East Riding and Hull from the devastation of flooding. The scheme features a series of lagoons, watercourses and tunnels which are designed, at times of heavy rainfall, to capture and store thousands of tonnes of surface water running off the nearby land to prevent that water causing flooding to homes and businesses in the area.
The AEEFAS scheme and its two sister schemes at Willerby and Derringham, and Cottingham and Orchard Park, have already proved their potential, when they helped prevent thousands of homes from being flooded.
Councillor Chris Matthews, portfolio holder for Strategic Property and Infrastructure at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This award is only given to those that come a close contender to the winning award and so I am immensely pleased that our scheme has been recognized by the judges to be worthy of this national accolade. East Riding of Yorkshire Council, ERI&F, the consultants and contractors, along with our funders Humber LEP, the Environment Agency and our supportive neighbouring Hull City Council, can all be very proud to have a nationally recognised infrastructure project reducing the risk of floods.
“These flood schemes are some of the largest ever built in this country and were a huge technical challenge for everyone involved, so to have them recognised by such professional industry bodies is a fantastic achievement.”
An aerial shot of the scheme, taken in July 2019
Councillor Mike Thompson, portfolio holder for neighbourhoods, communities and environment at Hull City Council, said: “We are delighted to have won these awards for the fantastic work our teams at Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council are doing to tackle flood risk.
“We are pleased that the Anlaby and East Ella scheme has been recognised for how it will benefit the local community, and we are also pleased with the progress on the East Hull pumping station which is part of the Holderness Drain Flood Alleviation Scheme.
“These innovative schemes are crucial to protecting our area from flooding, and by working collaboratively we can continue to minimise risk to some of our most vulnerable communities.”
The project was delivered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council in partnership with Hull City Council and the Environment Agency.
Funding for the AEEFAS scheme came through the Flood Defence Grant in Aid (FDGiA) administered by the Environment Agency, and Local Growth Fund (LGF) through the Humber Growth Deal by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.
