The project will result in Ipswich being defended against flooding to a 0.3% chance in any year (1 in 300 chance in any year) over the 100 year life of the Strategy taking into account forecast sea level rise. This will protect new and existing communities from the increasing threat of flooding whereas current protection standards in Ipswich are on average about a 1 in 70 year flooding event, and at their lowest point to about a 1 in 20 year event. Several lengths of the existing defences are at the end of their design life and are likely to fail soon.

Project Scope

There are four separate but inter-linked key components of the Project. These are illustrated on the attached Plans in Annex B (Exhibit 2), and in summary are:

• The provision of new flood gates to the Ipswich Wet Dock;
• The provision of a tidal surge barrier in the New Cut of the River Orwell;
• Walls connecting the barrier to higher ground on both sides of the river;

• Mitigation works associated with the first three components.

Aims of the Project

There are three main aims to the project:

•  To reduce flood risk to central Ipswich to a 0.3% chance in any year over the 100 year life of the strategy ( 1in 300 year standard of flood protection) , taking into account forecast sea level rise;
• To replace existing sub-standard and deteriorating defences;

• To protect existing and developing communities.

Outcomes of the Project

The outcomes fall into five categories:

• That flood risk to communities and businesses is reduced. The project will provide present value benefits of £336m (identified in accordance with Defra's PAGN guidance).
• Reduction in risk to life and health impacts caused by flooding
• To increase confidence of potential investors in the viability of developing in Ipswich and thereby increase the chances of sustainable centrally located development within the town;
• To enable the Environment Agency and the Borough Council to support a greater level of development than is currently the case as the risks associated with potential flooding will be significantly lower once the barrier is in place;
• To reduce the pressure on edge of town Greenfield sites that are sequentially preferable (in flooding terms).

Status

Funding for 2008/09 £500,000

Funding for 2009/10 £1,200,000

Funding for 2010/11 £1,700,000

IDP Package: IP-One

Status as at 30 September 2008:

• Partnership formed with the Environment Agency
• Exhibition outlining project on 5 December 2008
• Picture shows flood gates being constructed.

Status as at 31 December 2008:

• Installation of wet dock flood gates achieved by 7 December 2008 (shown).
• Ground investigations completed, preliminary designs and estimates prepared and Environmental Impact Assessment scoping report issued for west bank works

Status as at 31 March 2009:

• Work completed under 2008/9 funding.

Status as at 30 June 2009:

• A planning application for East and West Bank works has been submitted with decision due in August.
• Negotiation with landowners underway.
• Numeric hydraulic modelling complete - confirms the design standards will be met.
• Three local consultation meetings held.

Status as at 30 September 2009:

• Planning permission granted 2 September 2009.
• Service diversion works currently underway.
• Physical modelling to confirm anti-scour design is underway.
• Transport and works order process initiated to alter navigation rights.

Status as at 31 December 2009:

• Service diversion works associated with East and West bank walls are almost complete.
• Two temporary site offices and compounds have been set up.
• Sheet piles for walls delivered to site on 14 December.
• Work commenced on removing sections of old floodwall 10 December.
• Pile driving for East bank commenced 15 December.
• Physical modelling to confirm anti-scour design for the barrier complete.

 Status as at 31 March 2010:

• Walls are greater than 75% complete.
• Substantial completion of the sheet piled parts of the east and west bank flood walls.
• Removal of old concrete floodwall - concrete was crushed and reused on site.
• Commencement of work to raise Cliff Road by constructing a ramp which will tie into the new defences at the rear of the Eco Oils depot.  Two way flow of traffic into and out of the port is being maintained at all times.

Status as at 30 September 2010:

• Pathway and lighting associated with the new defence wall at Westbank is currently under construction.
• At East Bank, the ramp which will carry dock road traffic over the defence wall is due to be completed by the end of November 2010.
• Overall, defence work at West and East Bank should be completed by the end of December 2010.
• The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will decide how to take the application for the Transport and Works Act Order forward on 26 November 2010.