Portsmouth: Final link in £71m city flood defence scheme approved

More than 4,200 homes in north Portsmouth are at risk from the effects of climate change, councillors heard

A city council has approved the final link in a £71m flood defence scheme.

More than 4,200 homes and nearly 500 businesses in north Portsmouth were at "immediate risk" from rising sea levels, councillors heard.

Flood defences along Ports Creek, which divides the island city from the mainland, had "less than five years left", the authority was told.

Councillor Hugh Mason, in charge of planning, said a higher barrier would be built by 2026.

Councillor Hugh Mason said flooding in the city's industrial areas would be a "disaster"

The new defence, comprising a rock base topped with a grassed embankment, would be 1.4m (4.6ft) taller, the planning committee was told.

That would be enough to cope with extreme flooding that might only occur once in 200 years, councillors heard.

Councillor Mason said the scheme was the final part of flood defences for northern Portsmouth, commenced in 2015, that would protect homes and important businesses from the effects of climate change.

Portsmouth could lose its only rail link to the mainland due to flooding, councillors heard

He said: "Portsmouth is a major industrial city and the disaster could be that we flood our industrial areas."

The government was paying for most of the scheme, with the rest coming from local funding, he added.

Applicants Coastal Partners, a group of local authorities, said the Ports Creek scheme included improvements to the Hilsea Lines conservation area.

The approved flood scheme would raise flood defences along Ports Creek, which separates the island city from the mainland

Caroline Timlett from the group warned councillors that Portsmouth was at risk of losing its rail connection to the mainland due to flooding.

She said: "Network Rail need to replace their bridge to keep a railway line on the island, because it's the only one, by 2045."

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