A decade after Bridge flood defences set as a priority, the work will be “accelerated”

Saturday 07 September 2024

Planning for future flood defences will be “accelerated” this term to hand over to the next States to decide what if anything should actually be built.

The need for improvements at the Bridge have been a stumbling block for housing development in the area.

Back in 2013 when the States agreed a strategy that brought together flood reports that themselves stretched back to 2007, members envisaged spending £20m. on work at St Sampsons Harbour and the area bordering Belle Greve over the following five years - that never happened.

Pictured: Flood risk at the Bridge, image from 2013 States report.

It was also estimated at the time £55m was needed over 30 years to mitigate current risks with a strategy based around events that had a one in 50 year return period.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, Environment & Infrastructure President, said: "Flood defences at the Bridge are an immediate priority because they enable much needed housing development to progress.

"However, looking at the bigger picture we also need to accelerate the east coast flood defence strategy more generally so that work on development plans can start without delay.

"Support for this preparatory work will help the island to gradually adapt its infrastructure to meet future climatic challenges.

"The Committee appreciates the Policy & Resources Committee's support for this vital work and hopes that the States agree funding through the 2025 Budget."

Funding for the planning was going to be recommended in 2026.

A Planning Inquiry for the Local Planning Brief for the St Peter Port and St Sampson Harbour Action Areas has arrangements in place for a public hearing this December.

The brief will be published in the coming weeks and include a report that refreshes proposals for the wider east coast area based on the work of Royal Haskoning Flood Studies.

Pictured: Deputy Lyndon Trott.

Policy & Resources Committee President Deputy Lyndon Trott said: "Protecting our lower lying and coastal land has consistently been recognised as a long-term infrastructure investment requirement by the States and has been agreed in principle for over a decade.

"To give the next Assembly the very best chance to maximise synergies and plan funding and resource for the construction projects, the Policy & Resources Committee believes this Assembly should accelerate the flood defence preparatory work.

"The development of a flood defence strategy for both harbours will require further technical studies and surveys to ensure a proportionate response is designed, is affordable and is deliverable.

Pictured: Options for flood defenses suggested in the past have included a barrier across the marina or raising the height of the wall that borders it.

"It will be important to review which areas need protecting from different sources of flooding, what level of protection should be provided and how we organise our future land use in this context.

"Starting this work in 2025 ahead of the new political term and with the benefit of the outcome from the Planning Inquiry for the Local Planning Brief will ensure that the next Assembly can properly consider prioritising a programme of sustained investment to protect higher risk areas first as part of its infrastructure planning while maximising that investment for wider benefit.

"The Policy & Resources Committee is therefore now proposing a Government Work Plan allocation in the 2025 Budget that supports the phasing of costs, as this work would have been recommended for priority in 2026."