Council unlocks £38m flood defence scheme to protect homes along the Humber

Homes in Barrow Haven, Barton upon Humber and New Holland will benefit from stronger flood protection after North Lincolnshire Council put £1m on the table to help unlock a major £38m tidal flood defence scheme.

The funding will allow the Environment Agency to move forward at pace with improvements along the Humber frontage – with immediate action to protect the most vulnerable homes first.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “Flooding is one of the biggest long-term risks facing communities along the Humber, and we’re not prepared to sit back and wait for it to happen again.

“By committing local funding now, we’re unlocking £38m of national investment and making sure this scheme is delivered here, protecting homes, jobs and vital infrastructure for the future.

“This is about taking responsibility, backing our communities, and making sure North Lincolnshire gets the protection it deserves.”

Around 50 properties at highest risk in Barrow Haven will receive practical flood protection measures, including flood doors, non-return valves and other improvements designed to reduce the risk and impact of tidal flooding.

These measures focus on homes affected by past flooding and those identified as most exposed.

Alongside this immediate protection, the funding helps deliver permanent improvements to flood defences. These include strengthening and raising existing embankments, targeting weaker sections, and improving drains and outfalls so high tides cannot force water back into communities.

Cllr Neil Poole, deputy leader and cabinet member for flooding, said: “Residents in places like Barrow Haven know what flooding feels like – the worry, the damage, and the disruption it causes.

“This funding means real protection on the ground: flood doors, valves and other measures going into homes that need them most, while stronger embankments and defences are built to reduce the risk longer term.

“It’s practical, it’s targeted, and it’s about giving people confidence that they’re being protected both now and in the years ahead.”

(Photo: Martin Vickers, MP for Brigg and Immingham , Barton ward councillors Paul Vickers and Keith Vickers, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council Rob Waltham, at Barrow Haven.)