Phase Two of Living with Water flood resilience begins at Derringham Hull

The next stage of Living with Water’s Blue Green plan for Derringham is taking shape. Work began this summer to turn the green spaces located behind Louis Drive,  Danube Road and Hunsley Avenue into aqua-green areas to mitigate flood risk. 

Phase two builds upon the three aqua-green spaces already in place at Moorhouse Road, Coventry Street and Manor Road. With 100,000 homes in Hull and the East Riding at risk of flooding, the Derringham project uses aqua greens and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) as part of an infrastructure scheme to improve resilience to surface water flooding. 

Aqua-greens provide water retention spaces as part of the flood mitigation work in this area, acting as temporary basins during heavy rainfall to hold excess water.  This water then slowly drains back into the sewer network, reducing the speed and flow of excess surface water and the likelihood of flooding.

Contract partner Mott MacDonald Bentley began phase one in November 2023 that included reprofiling some ten-foots at Moorhouse Road, Coventry Street and Manor Road.  Phase two to create three more aqua greens started in the summer with the reprofiling of ten-foots and the creation of temporary basins to hold excess water during heavy rainfall.

Living With Water is a partnership between Yorkshire Water, Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the Environment Agency and the University of Hull – all of which play a role in managing water in Hull and the East Riding. The partnership is working with local ward councillors to join them at their weekend and evening surgeries, to keep residents informed of what’s going on and answer any concerns they may have.

Surgery sessions and drop-in centres provide an opportunity for people living in and around the area to see the technical aspects of the scheme, see how it is progressing as well as chat to the Living with Water team if they have any concerns. The team is also on hand at these sessions to capture details of any flood incidents local residents may have experienced where they live and work.

Phase two will continue up until Christmas and local residents and community groups will be kept up to date by letter about the ongoing stages of this work, so they know what to expect and when. Letters will also inform local communities of any potential traffic disruption whilst this critical flood alleviation work is carried out.  Regular community drop-in sessions will continue, dates and venues can be found on the Living with Water website.

Emma Brown, partnership manager, Yorkshire Water and Living with Water general manager, said:  “Our investment for Hull and East Riding into sustainable drainage schemes aims to act as a blueprint for wider partnership work when it comes to flood resilience. Not only does this type of infrastructure help mitigate flood risk, it works closely with nature and communities to enhance the local area and showcase the way we can work together for the customer and the environment.”

Cllr Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment, Hull City Council, said:  “The Derringham scheme is a great example of what can be achieved by working in partnership.

“It is part of the wider strategic approach for managing our changing climate whilst also responding to the ecological emergency the city has declared.  The scheme offers flood benefits for communities alongside creating the habitat and ecology that nature needs and enables Hull and its residents to adapt.“

Phase two of the Derringham scheme is part of £23m investment by Living with Water in surface water schemes across Hull and East Riding over five years.  The comprehensive flood resilience plan began with a permeable paving road surface on Rosmead Street, working with Hull City Council housing department who were improving the frontages in the east of the city.  Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are also being installed at multiple sites in and around Bilton to slow the flow of surface water and reduce the likelihood of flooding.

For more information or to find out when the next Living with Water community event is being held, head to our website www.livingwithwater.co.uk