Once complete in spring 2021, the scheme will improve protection to 509 properties in the town, and provide £46 million of economic benefits over the next 50 years.

The Stokesley Flood Alleviation Scheme is part of the current 6 year capital investment programme which sees government funding of £2.6bn to better protect 300,000 homes from flooding and coastal erosion between 2015 and 2021.

Beyond 2021 a record government investment of £5.2bn has been announced. This will better protect 336,000 properties, through the creation of around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences, in England by 2027.

The Environment Agency also published its Flood and Coast Erosion Risk Management Strategy, a blueprint setting out how it will work with communities to deliver the government’s long term plan.

Footpath closure

One of the initial elements of the works is the temporary closure of a footpath located across the A173 starting on Monday 12th October. This action, agreed with North Yorkshire County Council, will be in place until the end of the programme next spring. The contractors will only close footpaths if it is strictly necessary for certain stages of the work.

Also back in July, Richmond MP Rishi Sunak was given a guided tour of the flood scheme in Stokesley.

Leila Huntington, the Environment Agency’s Flood Risk Manager for the North East, said:

We are delighted that work will begin on the Stokesley Flood Alleviation Scheme. This is a project that will benefit residents, businesses, the local economy and local wildlife.

With the impacts of climate change we are seeing changes in weather patterns and an increase in flood risk. The improved flood defence at Stokesley, which is part of the government’s current flood risk capital investment programme, plays a crucial role in better protecting the wider community from the risk of flooding into the future.

The contractor working on the project is BMMJV, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald.

The first part of the programme will see the removal of the ‘downstream flow control structure’, to enable construction of the new structure in the same location.

The River Leven flow will be closely managed to ensure the watercourse flows normally downstream during the work and flood risk is not increased.

All contractors working on the site will be wearing appropriate PPE and adhering to any social distancing requirements. The work is expected to be complete by the end of spring 2021.

To find out if you are living in a flood risk area and for information on how to sign up for flood alerts please visit the Environment Agency website

Any questions about the scheme should be sent to stokesleyfloodscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk