Green light for £25m Greatham North East Flood Alleviation Scheme

The £25m scheme will help reduce the flood risk for Hartlepool and help to combat coastal erosion. It will provide better flood protection to nationally important industry and infrastructure while restoring lost intertidal habitat. 

Construction is due to start in early 2027 and last for approximately 2 years.  It is part of the wider £30 million Tees Tidelands Programme that aims to realign flood defences, restore intertidal and river habitats, and reconnect tributaries and local communities with the estuary.

Greenabella embankment constructed out of slag boulders and in a poor condition. Copyright: Environment Agency

The scheme includes constructing a new 1.5km long embankment at Greenabella Marsh, followed by breaching the existing Greenabella embankment to provide better flood resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Clay to construct the embankment will be excavated from Marsh House Farm, an area of land owned by the Environment Agency, close to the site. Once excavated, the land at Marsh House Farm will form a saline lagoon, creating valuable habitat. Repair works are also planned on Greatham Creek embankment.

Greatham Creek embankment is to be repaired as part of the project. Copyright: Environment Agency

A large area of mudflats and saltmarsh on the Tees Estuary will be restored which will provide valuable habitat for wildlife and capture tonnes of carbon each year.  This valuable habitat has been lost over the past 200 years due to industrialisation, and less than 10% of the original intertidal habitats is estimated to remain.

Joe Reed, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said: