A joint venture (JV) between Jackson Civil Engineering and Hyder Consulting is continuing work on an £18 million flood alleviation scheme in Newhaven.

JacksonHyder has completed work on the west bank of the River Ouse, which will help reduce flood risk to 244 homes, 88 commercial properties and vital infrastructure.

Work on this phase has included;

• Building a 150-metre-long bund north of Cantell's Boatyard

• Building a 130-metre wall built along the edge of the footpath either side of Denton Island Bridge

• Realigning and raising the flood defence bund at the rear of Huggett's Green, plus constructing various concrete walls in this area for seating and to support a new floodgate

• Building a 140-metre-long reinforced concrete wall which runs from near the Swing Bridge to just north of the Ark Pub with access to fishermen's jetties

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• Raising 20 metres of flood defence bund in West Quay

JacksonHyder will now begin work on the east bank and the overall scheme is on schedule to be completed by 2019. Once finished, it will reduce flood risk to approximately 430 homes and 390 commercial properties and vital infrastructure, as well as bringing significant economic benefits to the coastal East Sussex town.

Gordon Wilson, Environment Agency Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said: "I am delighted that works have been completed on the west bank at Newhaven, and that residents and businesses will now benefit from a significantly reduced flood risk. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Newhaven community for their support and encouragement throughout the construction period and ask for their continued forbearance, as there will inevitably by some disruption whilst this essential work is completed.

"When the flood alleviation scheme is completed in 2019, it will reduce the tidal flood risk to hundreds of homes and a significant number of commercial properties in the area, as well as protecting important local infrastructure such as the road network, railway tracks and the train station. We believe that it will also contribute to the wider regeneration of Newhaven, helping to bring new investment, jobs and homes to the town, and the surrounding area."

(LM/MH)