Northumbrian Water, Gateshead Council and the Environment Agency will deliver engineering upgrades and nature-based measures in Sunniside under the Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership from July, with work lasting eight months.

Construction is set to get under way on a £2.3m joint project to lower the risk of flooding in Gateshead.

The scheme will see Northumbrian Water, Gateshead Council and the Environment Agency working together to deliver a mix of traditional engineering and natural interventions to address multiple flooding sources in the Sunniside area.

It is among the first projects being delivered through the Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership (NIDP), a collaboration that brings together the water company, the Environment Agency and local authorities across the North East to achieve a greater impact than any one organisation could alone. It is the first time in the UK that such a partnership has come together to work collaboratively in such a joined-up way.

Planned works include installing new surface water drainage to divert rainwater away from homes and upgrading the existing drainage network. Nature-based features will also be created, such as basins, bunds (mounds) and swales to guide water and hold excess rainfall away from homes and businesses.

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Two paved hardstanding areas within the Sunniside estate will be replaced with grass to help slow the flow of rainwater.

Construction is due to begin in July 2026 and is expected to take eight months to complete.

A community drop-in to meet the project team and find out more will take place on Thursday, 2 July, from 3pm to 7pm at Sunniside Social Club, Sunniside Road.

Stephen Hodge, Northumbrian Water’s Project Manager, said: "The NIDP is an innovative and collaborative approach to protecting people and communities from flooding. We’re really excited to be getting to work, using this unique partnership approach to make a big difference for the people of Sunniside.

"Northumbrian Water is also in the planning stages of a nearby project to reduce spills from storm overflows, protecting the local environment. As well as reducing flood risk, the NIDP project will also help to make a valuable start on delivering that goal by reducing the amount of surface water that enters our network."

Anneliese Hutchinson, strategic director for Economy, Innovation and Growth at Gateshead Council said: "This partnership approach to flooding prevention is so important.

"All these vital organisations are working together to tackle problem areas that can cause Sunniside residents such misery – and massively affect both their peace of mind, and the value of their homes."

Zahra Ravenscroft, Area Flood Risk Manager – North East, at the Environment Agency, said: "I am delighted that this project is about to begin construction, which, when complete, will reduce the risk of flooding to 63 homes in the Sunniside area. For those affected by flooding, the impact can be catastrophic and life changing, so I hope this project will bring peace of mind to people living and working in the area now and for many years to come

"The Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership is a brilliant partnership which we are proud to be a part of and is an excellent demonstration of how collaborative working can create long term solutions which reduce the risk of flooding in our communities."