Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet has today approved a plan to underwrite a £2.7 million funding gap in a major flood management scheme to protect the A12.
The council had already pledged £2m to the Benacre flood relief scheme, but the extra £2.7m will ensure it can now go ahead.
The scheme will see 82 hectares of grazing land transformed into saltmarsh, along with construction of clay embankments and two new pumping stations.
The new habitat will absorb the energy of the sea during storms and ensure the A12, homes, businesses, farmland, freshwater resources, and wildlife are protected against a 1 in 200 year storm for the next 50 years.
Were the scheme not to go ahead it could cost an estimated £235m over the next 50 years and compromise not only the A12, but also 200 domestic and commercial properties, and 450 hectares of farmland.
In October 2024 the Council agreed to the £2m contribution alongside £25m from Sizewell C and £32.1m from the Environment Agency, which funded the planned-for project costs of £59.1m.
In late December 2024, the final total project costs became known and exceeded the planned-for value by £5m.
Alternative funding sources and cost savings found £2.3m, but there was still a £2.7m funding gap.
The Cabinet today agreed to underwrite the project up to £2.7m during the construction period up to 2029.
The money will be used to cover existing risks identified in the project and will only be used if they materialise.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council Cabinet member for Ipswich, Operational Highways and Flooding, said: “This scheme is incredibly important, doing nothing was not an option.
“If this scheme were not to proceed we would be facing regular and prolonged closures caused by flooding of the A12, with all the cost and disruption that would entail.
“Our further financial contribution presents council taxpayers with excellent value for money and secures this section of the A12 for the future.”
The A12 at Benacre is low-lying and identified as being at significant flood risk from both the sea and the river.
Water flowing down the Hundred River valley is currently pumped out to sea over the beach at Kessingland via an aging Environment Agency pumping station.
The pumping station and the whole valley is at significant risk due to coastal erosion that will result in the sea breaching the current sand ridge and beach.
Rock defences currently protecting the beach cannot be maintained in the long term due to the ongoing natural erosion and breaches are expected to occur in the next couple of years.
The project is being promoted and constructed by the Waveney, Lower Yare and Lothingland Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and maintained by the Environment Agency and the landowner.
Now the council has approved funding the IDB can sign the main construction contract at the beginning of next month.
