The Environment Agency’s new tidal flood defence barrier for Ipswich has been officially opened by Floods Minister, Dr Thérèse Coffey, ensuring more than 1,600 homes and 400 businesses are better protected from flooding and the impacts of climate change over the course of the next century.

The new tidal barrier in Ipswich is part of a significant package of works to upgrade flood defences along the River Orwell. Costing almost £70 million, the new flood defences centrepiece is a 200-tonne rotating barrier which can be raised in minutes, helping to keep the town safe from tidal surges during storms.

The flood gate has a design similar to that of the Thames Barrier and is so large that it is coated with 6 tonnes of protective paint. The flood gate rotates upwards out of the sea floor into the closed position, holding back dangerous tidal surges that could flood the town. The defence also includes 1,100 metres of new and refurbished flood walls and a series of flood gates on the banks of the River Orwell.

The 200 tonne tidal gate was manufactured in Rotterdam, Holland. The work was carried out by Hollandia, a sub-contractor for the Environment Agency's contractor VBA who delivered the scheme – a joint venture between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins.

The Environment Agency said the scheme will better protect homes and businesses in Ipswich over the next 100 years from the increased flood risks associated with climate change. The new defences will provide a much higher level of protection from the type of tidal surge which threatened the town in 2007 and 2013, both of which were close to spilling over the existing defences.

The government’s most recent climate change projections predict that sea levels could rise by up to 1.15 metres, increasing the risk of tidal surges affecting those living on the coast.

In addition to the reduced flood risk benefits, Ipswich’s new flood defence scheme has the advantage of helping to boost the local economy through freeing up hectares of land for regeneration.

Environment Agency Chair, Emma Howard Boyd, said:

“Climate change means increasing storms and rising sea levels all over the world. This flood scheme will help people and businesses prosper in a more resilient Ipswich over the course of the next century.

The Environment Agency worked closely with the local community, the council and businesses to design and build a scheme that provides a greater level of protection for the town. It’s an important step forwards for our six year, £2.6 billion flood investment across the whole country.”

The scheme is a major step forwards for the borough council’s Core Development Strategy for Ipswich and will release land for development helping to create an estimated 4,000 jobs.

The flood defence scheme, which will reduce the risk of flooding to 1,608 homes and 422 businesses as well as key infrastructure, has been partnership funded by:

• Environment Agency - £54.6 million
• Ipswich Borough Council through the Haven Gateway Partnership - £3.4 million
• New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership - £6.6 million
• Regional Flood and Coastal Committee - £1.7 million
• UK Power Networks - £1.1 million