Yorkshire Water is investing £26.3m over the next five years in anti-flood measures
In the wake of the catastophic 2007 floods, the Living with Water partnership has delivered creative and nature-based solutions to help Hull and East Yorkshire adapt to the growing challenges of flooding.
Over the past five years, it has seen the creation of permeable paving on Rosmead Street. There are also plans to build a series of lagoons around the village of Bilton at a cost of £13.7-million, with works scheduled to start early next year.
These lagoons, or ‘Sustainable Drainage Systems’ (SuDS), will also be built in Orchard Park. It is hoped these projects will transform how flood water is managed across local communities.
The £8.4m Derringham scheme, completed in the summer of 2025, has been hailed as a prime example of what can be achieved through the collaboration. Six new aqua greens now provide temporary storage for excess rainwater, reducing pressure on the sewer network.
Living with Water said these spaces don’t just protect homes, they provide areas of biodiversity that illustrate how flood resilience can also create green community spaces.
This work is part of a wider £23m investment delivered since 2020, laying the foundations for a long-term strategy to manage surface water and sewer flooding. With Hull having the second highest flood risk area in the UK, and 95 per cent of the city sitting below the highest tide levels, the need for sustainable, adaptable solutions has never been greater.
Looking ahead, Yorkshire Water is investing £26.3m over the next five years to continue this transformation. The next phase of the Blue-Green Plan will focus on Hull’s west and the East Riding, disconnecting roadside drainage from the combined sewer system and installing SuDS and rain gardens along 7km of roads.
A new tidal pumping station will also be built to discharge flows to the Humber, reducing flood risk for homes and businesses.
These projects will remove around 10 hectares of surface water from the sewer network, delivering a 1–2 per cent improvement in flood resilience across the catchment. More importantly, they will create greener, more biodiverse spaces and build a strong foundation for future phases of flood management.
Emma Brown, general manager of Living with Water, said: “This investment is a vital part of our long-term strategy to build flood resilience across Hull and Haltemprice. By working with our partners and embracing sustainable, nature-based solutions, we’re creating spaces that communities can enjoy, that provide robust flood resilience to protect homes and businesses.”
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. Together, it is committed to building flood resilience across Hull and the East Riding and adopting nature-based solutions to improve flood management.
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