UPDATED: 1,300 more York homes face flood risk - See new proposals for 10 neighbourhoods

Options for new flood defences in ten separate York neighbourhoods were unveiled by the Environment Agency on Friday, to protect properties alongside the Ouse, Foss and other rivers and streams such as Tang Hall Beck and Holgate Beck.

The proposals have gone on display at an exhibition at Hotel 53 in Piccadilly, just over two months after £45 million of flood defence cash was promised to York in the Chancellor's Budget.

The exhibition at Hotel 53 on Friday. It continues on Saturday. 

The funding is on top of £10 million committed by the Prime Minister in December towards a £17 million project to upgrade to the Foss barrier and pumping station, where work has started shortly and should be completed by December next year.

The pumping station was overwhelmed by the flow of water down the Foss on Boxing Day, with floodwaters entering the supposedly watertight control room.

The agency says its calculations of how many extra properties may be at risk of flooding are based on Defra 'guidance' that peak river flows may increase by 20 per cent by 2040 if present trends continue.

The organisation wants as many people as possible from the ten flood-risk areas to visit the exhibition, which runs from 10am until 5pm on Saturday, to give their views.

The ten areas are:

NABURN & ACASTER MALBIS

About 90 residential properties are currently estimated to be at risk of flooding from the Ouse in Acaster Malbis and 120 in Naburn. However, the number may rise to 140 in Acaster Malbis by 2040 and 170 in Naburn because of climate change, says the agency. The Ouse Strategy, published in 2005, suggested the best option for reducing flood risk was to raise defences and/or construct new barriers. The agency is currently working with City of York Council and Naburn Parish Council to develop a plan for Naburn, including the development of an urban drainage model allowing it to understand further how flooding occurs.

What work may be possible?

• Property level resilience
• Pumping station resilience
• Re-profiling of road.

What is technically feasible?

• Install a flood storage area on Howden Dyke
• Review outfall of Howden Dyke
• Alterations to Naburn Lock and Weir
• Install new defences within Naburn village

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POPPLETON

The area on the Ouse's right bank, which includes Millfield Industrial Estate, benefits from high ground in the north and railway embankments and flood storage capacity at Poppleton Ings. About five residential properties are currently at risk of flooding during a 1 in 100 year flood event, but this may rise to 20 because of climate change.

What work may be possible?

• Road profiling

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience

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BISHOPTHORPE

The only flood defence is a short overtopping embankment at Middlethorpe Ings. About 10 residential properties are currently at risk of flooding from the Ouse but this may rise to 120 because of climate change. In 2005 a potential flood defence scheme was identified providing protection against a one in 50 year flood, which would include a floodwall on the riverward side of Bishopthorpe Palace, tying into a flood embankment across the end of Chantry Lane and then into high ground. A pumping station would be required to deal with flows from the surface water culvert.

What work may be possible?

• New defence including pumping station

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience, flood warden recruitment

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CLIFTON & RAWCLIFFE

The area benefits from the Rawcliffe and Clifton Ings flood storage areas along with raised ground. About 280 residential properties are currently at risk of flooding from the Ouse in a 1 in 100 year flood event, but this may rise to 600 through climate change.

What work may be possible?

• Raise the Clifton Ings Barrier Bank and extend into high ground
• Install a permanent pumping station at Blue Beck
• Raise ground adjacent to river outside of Government House Road properties

What is technically feasible?

• Raise the existing embankment at St Olaves school
• Extend the flood defence from Lower Bootham
• Replace the pumping station at Burdyke Beck as well as increase the pumping capacity and install extra pump
• Replace and raise floodwall along Almery Terrace and install new floodgates

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FULFORD

There are currently no flood defences. About 50 residential properties are estimated to be currently at risk of flooding from the Ouse and Germany Beck but this may rise to 170 because of climate change. A Draft Ouse Flood Risk Management Strategy of 2005 suggested a new flood defence was viable at New Walk to provide a 1 in 50 year event standard of protection, including two short walls, one along the end of Grange Garth and the other around the end of Alma Terrace, which would require a floodgate for access to river frontage. Scheme installed at pumping station cottages in Fulford in 2014 to minimise impact of regular flooding.

What work may be possible?

• Make use of the washland
• Review the operation of washlands

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience
• New flood defence at New Walk

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TANG HALL & OSBALDWICK

There are currently no flood defences. About 320 residential properties are estimated to be currently at risk of flooding from Osbaldwick Beck, Tang Hall Beck or the Foss. but this may rise to 390 because of climate change. A 2004 study suggested the most important way to reduce flood risk was to ensure bridges and culverts were not blocked by trash. Also, close to the James Street Traveller’s site, Tang Hall Beck overtops the Foss Islands disused railway, increasing the risk of flooding of properties between the railway line and Foss Islands Road. The most effective way to reduce this risk is by creating water storage areas in Foss Islands and St Nicholas Field.

What work may be possible?

• Property level resilience
• Trash screens

What is technically feasible?

• Install an automated system into Tang Hall sluice
• More storage

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YORK CITY-CENTRE

In the area between Scarborough Bridge and Skeldergate Bridge, about 880 residential properties are currently at risk of flooding from the Ouse and Foss during a 1 in 100 year flood event but this may rise to 1,050 through climate change. A 2005 Draft Ouse Strategy critically assessed several options for reducing flood risk, and suggested the best option was to raise defences and/or construct new barriers.

What work may be possible?

• Raise the walls surrounding the Foss Barrier
• Upgrade the capacity of the pumps at the Foss Barrier
• Raise defence along North Street and extend to War Memorial and Post Office
• Reinforce wall along Tower Street

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience
• Low flood wall along King's Staith
• Road reprofiling on Tower Street
• Raise defences along Museum Gardens and tie into high ground and replace flood gates

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CLEMENTHORPE

There are currently flood defences at Lower Ebor Street. About 190 residential properties are currently at risk of flooding from the Ouse but this may rise to 280 because of climate change.

In 2008, an Aqua Barrier was installed at the end of Clementhorpe by City of York Council. While it reduced the consequence of flooding to residents, water found its way under the road and came through its surface and kerb stones. As a result it has not been used since. The agency and council reviewed options for Clementhorpe in 2013, looking at the installation of a permanent flood wall, the use of a temporary barrier, increasing the height of the existing defence at Lower Ebor Street and options for property level resilience.

While the preferred technical solution was a combination of the above, it was not possible to secure Government funding for this work. As such property level resilience was deemed the most financial viable solution.

What work may be possible?

• Install a permanent flood barrier at Clementhorpe
• Construct an embankment or landscaping downstream of Rowntrees Park
• Raise the flood banks in Middlethorpe Ings
• Review of operation of washlands

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience
• Improve/ raise the existing Lower Ebor defences and replace flood gates
• Install a permanent flood wall at the end of Clementhorpe
• Raise the access ramps to Millennium Bridge

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FOSS

The area stretches from Piccadilly up to Earswick, South Beck and Westfield Beck up to Wigginton. There are no flood defences. About 610 residential properties are currently at risk of flooding from the Foss during a 1 in 100 year flood event but this may rise to 730 because of climate change. A study to investigate the feasibility of flood storage on Westfield Beck concluded the peak water level at the New Earswick culvert should be maintained. There were no sites with ground levels suitable for natural storage and it would be necessary to excavate a storage pond. A preferred site for a pond was identified on the left bank of Westfield Beck, between the York and Scarborough railway line and Haxby Road.

What work may be possible?

• Create upstream storage, such as adjacent to Westfield Beck
• Channel maintenance

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience
• Install a low flood wall at the end of Huntington Road

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HOLGATE BECK

There are currently no flood defences in place. Flood assets consist of high ground, screens and culverts. About 420 residential properties are estimated to be at risk of flooding but this may rise to 570 due to climate change. The Water End Flood Alleviation Scheme was completed in 2014, including a brick flood wall, temporary removable defences, and increased size and height of some of previously existing flood embankments, and protecting about 400 homes and businesses from a 1 in 200 year flood event.

What work may be possible?

• Relocate the Holgate Beck pumping station, increase the capacity of pumps and improve resilience

What is technically feasible?

• Property level resilience