Delight as £7.6m bid for cash for vital flood prevention scheme at Alverstoke is approved
A vital flood prevention scheme at Alverstoke can now be put in place after a bid for the extra £7.6m to pay for it was approved by the government.
The scheme will create a new flood wall and road flood gate at the top of Stoke Lake, providing much-needed flood protection to 130 nearby homes and local infrastructure. The total cost is £8,382m, with Gosport Borough Council's bid for the extra cash needed to progress with the work approved by the Environment Agency.
Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Gosport Borough Council leader, said: "It's great news for Alverstoke that our bid for millions of pounds of extra funding has been successful.
"This scheme can now move forward and will offer vital flood protection for 130 houses, businesses and local infrastructure."
"This will come as extremely welcome news to the Alverstoke community, following the devastation caused by tidal flooding during Storm Pierrick in April 2024, and the community's ongoing concerns over their risk of flooding."
The scheme is being delivered through Coastal Partners, who will bring in additional resources ready to resume the project this spring. It is expected to take at least three years to complete.
Meanwhile, than £10million worth of funding has also been secured to continue to pay for ongoing sea defence works which are being carried out in the city and across the surrounding area.
The government has confirmed that it will continue to pay for the planned works in Southsea and Farlington Marshes, with a large part of the sea defence works across Portsmouth either complete or well underway.
Watch the video embedded in this story of the latest images of the new-look promenade in front of Southsea Common
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said: “Flooding has caused real worry and disruption for families and businesses in Portsmouth and strengthening our local defences is absolutely essential.
“The Southsea Coastal scheme, which has my full support, is making good progress. This further investment from the Labour Government will make a meaningful difference, helping to protect homes, support local businesses, and our community the security they deserve.”
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin added: “I will continue working with the Environment Agency and local partners to ensure Portsmouth gets the resilient flood protection it needs for the future.”
Havant Borough Council was also awarded money by the Environment Agency for flood protection works across the borough, including Hayling Island.
Updates on the Alverstoke scheme will be provided on the Coastal Partners website.