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Flood defence investment to create 4,000 jobs

New flood defences will create up to 4,000 jobs in East Anglia and open up land for development, after more than £60m of investment.

The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) welcomed plans to build flood defences in Ipswich, Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn, and contributed a £6.6m loan from its Growing Place Fund.

Investment from the Government totalled £55.9m towards a tidal barrier across the New Cut of River Orwell, sea defences in Great Yarmouth and the renewal of flood gates in King’s Lynn.

The LEP’s contribution will support the Ipswich leg of the project, where work is expected to start in June 2014.

1,600 homes will be protected by the tidal barrier in Ipswich, while the Great Yarmouth programme in Cobham and Southtown is expected to safeguard approximately 4,000 homes.

Andy Wood, Chairman of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership said: “We have worked hard to support the Environment Agency and Ipswich Borough Council in bringing forward the Ipswich barrier scheme.

“The funding we have made available from our Growing Places Fund will enable this scheme to go ahead and will act as a tremendous catalyst for growth for Ipswich.

“We’re equally pleased to see funding made available for flooding protection in our key economic centres of Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn. These measures will help boost business confidence and protect homes.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .