Changes to rules could see cash unlocked to resurrect flood defence scheme for Hebden Bridge neighbourhood
New rules for allocating cash to schemes reducing the risk of flooding to people’s homes might benefit a project which has been in doubt.
Environment Agency (EA) officers have been trying to work up a scheme to protect around 33 homes around Stubbing Holme Road in Hebden Bridge.
This is a smaller and separate project to the £81million main Hebden Bridge scheme which has just received planning approval.
However, despite efforts made to reduce costs and increase benefits a scheme might bring to Stubbing Holme Road residents, under the EA’s current rules the proposed works were “not cost beneficial”, officers reported.
And with EA funding from one pot of money – £954,000 budgeted to help take Stubbing Holme Road forward but only £50,000 allocated from a much-reduced regional award to Yorkshire region from the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant in Aid fund for 2026-27 – prospects were looking bleak.
But that might all be about to change, following new Government guidance to the EA over criteria for projects, including more emphasis on protecting individual properties and natural flood management.
This could unlock necessary cash, EA officers feel.
“This has been a complex process.
“Unfortunately, under the current funding rules the proposed scheme is not cost-beneficial.
“However, new funding rules which are due to be introduced in April this year should benefit schemes like Stubbing Holme Road.
“Under the new rules, central government will fund 90 per cent of projects over £3million, which could significantly improve the chances of the project in its guise being delivered,” they reported to the Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Programme Board.