Work has started on the £38.3 million tidal barrier that will help protect Ipswich from future storms.
The funding for the project will come from a Flood and Coastal Risk Management Grant in Aid of £6 million, as well as partnership contributions with the Environment Agency, Ipswich Borough Council and New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) worth £7.7 million.
The New Anglia LEP will provide £6.6 million while £1.1 million worth of funding will come from private sources.
The remainder of the money will be provided by the Defra Growth and Acceleration Fund.
Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: “This scheme is fantastic for the people of Ipswich. It will protect over 2,000 homes and businesses from flood waters and boost the local economy by giving businesses confidence to come to the area. .
“We are providing more than £30 million to get this built, with our successful partnership funding scheme bringing in £6.6 million.
“This major investment is part of a £2.3 billion programme to tackle the risk of flooding and means that more money than ever before is being spent to better protect communities like Ipswich.”
Dr Charles Beardall, Area Manager for the Environment Agency, said:
“This barrier will provide increased resilience for Ipswich against future floods.
“It will enable growth and development, supporting the economic sustainability of this important county town.
“The flood defence will reduce the risk of flooding to many homes and businesses, plus key infrastructure such as the fire station and important power supplies.”
The scheme will provide protection to Ipswich from a 0.33 per cent (1 in 300) chance of flooding each year over the next 100 years and takes into account climate change.
During a tidal surge the barrier will be raised to provide tidal flood protection to the centre of Ipswich. In addition, when the River Gipping is in flood it will be partially raised to reduce the bed of the New Cut scouring away.
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