The Crown Estate has completed the construction of a £325,000 flood defence wall at Hawkins Point, Sunk Island to protect the areas high grade agricultural land from flooding.
This follows a £450,000 investment last year which saw the tidal doors and drainage system on the island upgraded. The latest investment in flood defences comes in the form of a rock sea wall spanning 40 metres and comprising of 1500 tonnes of rock armour.
The Crown Estate decided to make the improvement following severe tidal surges in December 2013 which caused damage along the Humber Banks. While the defences held, it was decided that they should be strengthened to ensure the protection of homes and farmland.
Work on the rock sea wall began in August and was completed last month. Originally a sand bank in the Humber Estuary, Sunk Island was reclaimed from the Humber over the last 300 years. Today, the Sunk Island Estate extends to 11,400 acres, comprising 34 agricultural lettings and 27 residential properties.
The Crown Estate’s Malcolm Burns, Portfolio Manager for the North of England, said:
“We have invested in excess of £750,000 over the past three years to protect the Sunk Island Estate. This demonstrates our commitment to Sunk Island, its heritage, agriculture and our tenants who live there”.
Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart commented:
“It’s vital that we invest in sea defences to protect valuable agricultural land from being ruined by an inundation of salt-water. Land in Welwick is still struggling with productivity after the encroachment of sea water during the storm surge in December last year; I welcome any investment to defend land and property from flood water, protecting lives and livelihoods.
“The Crown Estate should be commended for the work it’s undertaken to safeguard land, homes, businesses and community buildings on Sunk Island.”
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.