Introduction
Hambleton is a village within the Borough of Wyre on the Fylde coastal plain in Lancashire. It sits alongside the River Wyre and between two smaller watercourses, Wardleys Pool and Pegs Pool.
Hambleton and its community is at flood risk. A large part of the village is in flood zone 3 which is an area with the highest probability of flooding. At present, the chance of flooding in any one year is greater than or equal to 1% (e.g. a 100 to 1 chance) for river flooding and greater than or equal to 0.5% (e.g. a 200 to 1 chance) for coastal and tidal flooding. The risk of flooding in Hambleton is likely to increase in the future as a result of climate change. Globally, intense storms are becoming more frequent and climate change is already increasing sea levels around the UK coast.
View of the River Wyre from The Shore road
Important update from the Environment Agency regarding COVID-19 (last updated August 2020)
The Environment Agency are committed and actively progressing the delivery of the Hambleton Flood Risk Management Scheme (FRMS) to better protect properties and ensure the longer term safety of the community. The Environment Agency have continued with scheme design despite the current circumstances impacting our ability to operate as normal.
The Environment Agency will be prioritising online engagement and communication, with key updates on the scheme provided via this page and newsletters. Any community based engagement will be subject to Government guidelines and restrictions.
Scheme Details
The Environment Agency are working with partners on a new flood risk management scheme for Hambleton. The scheme will reduce the flood risk to over 600 properties.
A list of options to manage flood risk in Hambleton were developed and assessed in accordance with Flood and Coastal Risk Management Appraisal Guidance. For further details on all of the options considered as part of the Hambleton FRMS please see the Frequently Asked Questions section, question 8. The preferred option of constructing raised flood defences was identified as the most feasible and cost effective option.
The existing defences, extending from the Shore Road to the embankment in front of Hambleton Fisheries, do not provide a consistent standard of protection. The defences in the south provide protection for a flood event with a 1% chance of occurring in any one year. In contrast, the defences in the vicinity of The Shore provide protection for a flood event with a 50% chance of occurring in any one year.
Linear flood walls are proposed from Kiln Lane, north of Wardleys Pool, to the end of the existing embankment near Peg’s Pool. The Hambleton FRMS will provide a consistent standard of protection against a flood event with a 0.5% chance of occurring in any one year. The scheme has included the effects of climate change, with consideration given to the impacts of sea-level rise and increased magnitude and severity of flood events. This increases the resilience of the scheme to climate change and reduces the requirement for further intervention in the medium to long-term.
The proposed flood defences are subdivided into 4 zones:
- Zone 1: Wardleys Yacht Club, running adjacent to Kiln Lane, to the junction between Kiln Lane and The Shore.
- Zone 2: Junction between Kiln Lane and The Shore, running adjacent to The Shore, to the southern extent of The Shore.
- Zone 3: Southern extent of The Shore, running adjacent to residential gardens, to Pedder Lane footpath.
- Zone 4: Pedder Lane footpath, running on the line of Peg’s Pool embankment, to the southern extent of Peg’s Pool embankment.
The scheme is estimated to deliver over £218 million in direct economic benefits (avoided flood damage) over 100 years. The current whole-life cost of the scheme is £15 million. The whole-life cost includes the full future maintenance of the scheme once built.
Update May 2020:
Following a national review of Flood Risk Management Schemes in 2019, the flood risk management scheme for Hambleton was identified as a project that would be paused during the financial year 2020-2021. This decision was made to ensure that the investment programme across the whole of England was affordable. The project was scheduled to pause following the submission of the planning application in summer 2020 and restart in financial year 2021-2022.
Since then additional government funding was secured for financial year 2020-2021 that has un-paused the project. This has been possible as the Hambleton Flood Risk Management Scheme has been identified as a local and national priority. This funding will enable the completion of the detailed design and further work to finalise the planning application for submission at a later date.
The Environment Agency continue to work on the detailed design and environmental assessments for this scheme. The project timeline* has been revised in light of the additional funding received for financial year 2020-2021.
* Timelines are indicative and based on the current best estimate programme. The impact of COVID-19, for example, could alter the timescales.
Ground investigation surveys will be carried out in a number of locations in the area. The surveys are planned to be undertaken in autumn 2020 and are likely to take less than 4 weeks to complete. Hand dug pits are required to confirm the utilities present and inspect existing infrastructure.
The Environment Agency will seek to minimise disruption. However, it is possible that footpaths or roads may need to be partially diverted temporarily. They will provide further information in advance of these works beginning.
The Environmnet Agency will look to deliver environmental enhancements as part of the scheme. Trees and hedgerows will need to be removed and will be replaced within the study area. For every tree removed, 5 will be replanted. Reinstatement of saltmarsh and reedbed habitats will occur using natural regeneration and careful reuse of excavated soils. Interpretation boards with historical and ecological information and new seating will be installed along the Wyre Way.
The Environment Agency are investigating opportunities for environmental enhancement in the vicinity of Hambleton as part of the scheme and working to identify interested landowners.
The protection and enhancement of the environment can deliver significant benefits for biodiversity, landscape quality and character and air quality. Examples of environmental enhancement include tree and hedgerow planting and habitat restoration.
If you would like to discuss this opportunity further please contact us at CMBLNC-PSO@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Communications and Engagement
The Environment Agency are committed to engaging and consulting with the community despite the challenges and restrictions that COVID-19 has created for face-to-face engagement.
Engagement with the community is progressing through a variety of mediums to ensure planned activities continue effectively whilst adhering to Government guidelines. At present, public engagement is primarily online, with the Environment Agency responding to individual enquiries and providing community-wide scheme updates via this page and newsletters. The Environment Agency are actively reviewing possible engagement options as Government guidelines change and will ensure safe ways of working are upheld.
The Environment Agency will engage with the public prior to the submission of the planning application, as planned. The format of this engagement will be subject to Government guidelines and restrictions. Options being considered include an online public engagement platform and managed attendance drop-in events, using appointments and implementing social-distancing guidelines.
Updates will be provided via this website and circulated to those who have previously expressed interest in scheme updates via the Hambleton Flood Risk Management Scheme mailing list. If you would like to sign up to the mailing list please email us at cmblnc-pso@environment-agency.gov.uk.
