- The new scheme is part of the £30m Tees Tidelands Programme
and will combat coastal erosion.
- The project will reduce flood risk, restore intertidal
habitats and reconnect local communities with the estuary.
- Construction will take approximately 2 years and help manage
flood risk over the next 50 years.
The £25m scheme will help reduce the flood risk for Hartlepool
and help to combat coastal erosion. It will provide better flood
protection to nationally important industry and infrastructure
while restoring lost intertidal habitat.
Construction is due to start in early 2027 and last for
approximately 2 years. It is part of the wider £30 million
Tees Tidelands Programme that aims to realign flood defences,
restore intertidal and river habitats, and reconnect tributaries
and local communities with the estuary.
What the scheme involves
The scheme includes constructing a new 1.5km long embankment at
Greenabella Marsh, followed by breaching the existing Greenabella
embankment to provide better flood resilience and mitigate the
impacts of climate change.
Clay to construct the embankment will be excavated from Marsh
House Farm, an area of land owned by the Environment Agency,
close to the site. Once excavated, the land at Marsh House Farm
will form a saline lagoon, creating valuable habitat. Repair
works are also planned on Greatham Creek embankment.
Improving resilience to climate change
A large area of mudflats and saltmarsh on the Tees Estuary will
be restored which will provide valuable habitat for wildlife and
capture tonnes of carbon each year. This valuable habitat
has been lost over the past 200 years due to industrialisation,
and less than 10% of the original intertidal habitats is
estimated to remain.
Joe Reed, Project Manager for the Environment Agency,
said:
The exciting project will improve the area's resilience to the
changing climate and will improve defences in this area to manage
flood risk over the next 50 years. With the creation of new vital
habitat for wildlife, it will improve biodiversity in the area
and help people reconnect with nature.
Structural investigation identified that Greatham Creek
embankment and Greenabella embankment are both in a poor
condition. Both are difficult to maintain due to the way
they were constructed, out of slag boulders in the late 19th
century, a by-product of industry at the time.
We will now continue to work on the relevant licences and
consents required prior to starting the construction phase early
next year and continue to engage with landowners.
The scheme has wide support from local industry and various
nature conservation bodies, including Natural England and the
RSPB.
Further information
The most recent project that has been completed as part of the
wider Tees Tidelands programme is the Greatham Marsh
Restoration project.
