en.Wedoany.com Reported - A £2.3 million joint flood defence scheme will begin construction in the Sunniside area of Gateshead, UK, in July 2026, with a planned construction period of eight months. The project, jointly delivered by Northumbrian Water, Gateshead Council, and the Environment Agency, aims to reduce flood risk in the area.
The project is one of the first to be delivered under the Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership (NIDP). This partnership brings together water companies, the Environment Agency, and local authorities in the North East, operating in a collaborative way that no single organisation could achieve alone—a first for the UK.
The scheme combines traditional engineering with natural interventions to address multi-source flooding in the Sunniside area. Specific measures include installing new surface water drainage systems to divert rainwater away from homes and upgrading the existing drainage network. Natural landscape features such as storage ponds, embankments, and swales will also be constructed to direct water flow and store excess rainfall, protecting homes and businesses. Two areas of hardstanding within the Sunniside Estate will be replaced with grass to slow the flow of rainwater.
A community drop-in event will be held on Thursday, 2 July, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sunniside Social Club on Sunniside Road, where residents can speak with the project team and learn more.
Stephen Hodge, Project Manager at Northumbrian Water, said the partnership represents an innovative and collaborative approach to protecting people and communities from flooding. The company is also planning a nearby project to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows, and the NIDP project will lay important groundwork for this by reducing the amount of surface water entering the pipe network.
Anneliese Hutchinson, Strategic Director for Economy, Innovation and Growth at Gateshead Council, said this flood defence partnership is very important, with key organisations joining forces to address problem areas affecting Sunniside residents, which have impacted their peace of mind and property values.
Zahra Ravenscroft, Flood Risk Management Lead for the North East at the Environment Agency, said the completed project will reduce flood risk for 63 homes in the Sunniside area, providing reassurance for those living and working there now and for many years to come. The partnership demonstrates how collaboration can create long-term solutions to reduce flood risk for communities.
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