Residents in waterside development told they will keep views of the Humber

RESIDENTS IN a plush waterside development in Hull are being assured they will keep their views of the Humber River when a new £42m flood defence wall goes up.

The Environment Agency says they have listened to concerns from people on Victoria Dock, who were worried their vistas would be blocked by new defences.

Dozens attended an event at the city’s Guildhall to find out more about the 19km (11 miles) long wall, which should start going up this Autumn.

Hull is the country’s largest atrisk urban area outside of London for coastal flooding, with 105,000 properties at risk. Hundreds of properties were flooded in the tidal surge of 2013.

At Victoria Dock they will be putting in glass sections in the new wall, which could be up to 5ft high – replacing one which is only about a foot tall.

But on the stretch alongside St Andrew’s Quay retail park, however, people will have to access a promenade, which will have a new concrete flood wall on the landside - designed in the shape of an upturned boot to deflect waves - to get the best views.

Senior adviser to the Environment Agency Andrew Barron said: “We are really looking to reduce the height of the wall, which we can do by setting it back from the front, so less waves reach it.

“The design is such that people will be able to use the promenade along the frontage to still enjoy the views.”

Mr Barron said the wall was being built to give protection until 2040, and it could be further raised if needed.

An unprecedented £200m is being invested in flood defence schemes in Hull and the East Riding in the 2015-2021 spending review.

Mr Barron said City of Culture status had helped. “Before then the 2007 event highlighted the flood risk in a major way. This is one of the major schemes out of the Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy of 2008. The tidal surge of 2013 was a reminder of the flood risk from the Humber.”