Catchment to Coast working in Leigh-on-sea

September 1, 2023

Catchment to Coast is a flood and coastal erosion resilience project aiming to build water resilience in the community (led by Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council). With the help of the community, they plan to implement measures over the next 3 years such as leaky dams at Belfairs Woods, water storage and re-use facilities in local allotments and extend the saltmarsh on Two Tree Island.

This project is funded by Defra as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.

The Council is acting as the project lead and the additional funding means Southend-on-Sea is set to become a national exemplar for how it manages the risk of flood and coastal erosion.

The partnership intends to address the current risks of flooding and coastal erosion in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock as well as parts of Rochford and Castle Point. The project spans three catchments and will deliver innovative flood and coastal resilience through a combination of nature-based solutions, sustainable drainage systems and erosion protection.

Historically, Southend and Thurrock have experienced flood events resulting from intense rainfall coinciding with high tidal and fluvial levels, causing flooding from surface water, sewer, and fluvial sources. There are also concerns of flooding during a tide locking scenario.