The Outline Business Case (OBC) was submitted by late May. However, there is still a substantial funding gap based on current estimates. The project team have a plan to reduce costs whilst trying to explore additional funding opportunities. Support from North Lincolnshire Council has been obtained through their Strategic Water Management Board.

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The 3rd year of construction activities commenced early in March, with consent from Natural England. The four small rock amour in-fill areas are due to be installed later this summer. This will complete the defence revetment works.

The access track to the outfall of New Cut Drain has been completed, and the design to cross over the Anglian Water main sewers has been approved. The installation is expected to be completed by the Autumn. At Oldfleet Drain the design of the overflow has been developed collaboratively with key stakeholders and the construction of the access track to the outfall is underway. The MMO have given the required consents for the desilting work to start using a dredging barge.

The Humber 2100+ project team have now completed the technical work for Step 1 (Understand Risk) of the project and presented the full set of outputs to partners. The 'Understand Risk' step is about building a solid foundation of evidence to create an accurate picture of future tidal flood risk around the Humber – essentially ensuring a common understanding of the challenge we face.

The outputs were presented for partner 'endorsement' via a summary report and a detailed evidence pack in January. 9 of the 11 local authority partners in the project, and the Environment Agency, have now formally endorsed the outputs, (including the picture of risk, the methodology and data behind them). We are confident that formal endorsement from the remaining partners will follow very shortly. This is a key milestone for the project as these outputs will form the basis for understanding strategic flood risk across the Humber going forwards. They will inform Step 2 of the project, as well as shaping our ongoing investment on the ground. Having positive endorsement from all partners means that we will be able to work together on an adaptive approach to managing tidal risk across the interconnected estuary system.

Work is now underway to begin Step 2, with a number of key areas of work progressing. These include a governance review; consideration of the evidence required to ‘agree approaches’ for managing tidal flood risk; and reflections on the lessons learned from Step 1. The partnership is also working on ways to present the Step 1 outputs to the wider public.

OtSMRS continues to attract visitors. Over the winter, there were many different varieties of birds, a diverse range of other species and visitors particularly have enjoyed the new bridleway and bird hides. Work paused during the winter to protect the over-wintering birds, but the site team have begun to remobilise enabling work to resume.

In early January, a small material slip occurred resulting in some emergency work to improve and minimise the likelihood of it reoccurring. Around the same time, the Skeffling pumping station compound was flooded due to a power cut to the existing pumping station. However, there was no significant damage.

The project team have produced an overarching ‘Mega’ business case which was approved in July 24. The various workshops held previously have informed this work to identify key stakeholders, risks and opportunities (including environmental) to support proposed future work.

The proposal for the Middle Humber programme will start with an initial ‘bundle’ of three work packages, located on the left-bank of the Dutch River upstream of Goole and either side of the River Ouse at Reedness and Yokefleet. Currently the project team are finalising elements to be able to progress the first bundle of work. One of the key projects within this programme is large scale maintenance works to the existing defences on the north bank of the Dutch River. This has been allocated £2 million Grant in Aid (GiA) funding for 25/26, with an additional contribution from the Goole Town Deal. This will significantly reduce flood risk to around 500 homes and over 300 non-residential properties. The work will be completed by March 2027.

Work to determine the best means of repairing the sluice gate at Beckingham Marshes is continuing. The project will continue to progress measures to implement remedial works to uphold the standards of the Reservoir Act 1075.

A single stage business case is being developed which is aimed at reviewing, repairing, or potentially replacing a dewatering structure that is coming to the end of its life. investigation works and analysis are ongoing and supporting the funding allocation by outlining costs.

The project team worked hard to develop the project appraisal and completed the Outline Business Case in January. This business case is being revised based on new information and construction is now likely to begin in 2027. However, the economic business case for the project is likely to remain very robust as it reduces flood risk to around 1300 properties.

Both the project Steering Group and Resilience Advisory Group are being kept informed and North Lincolnshire Council will be approached for a contribution towards developing the Full Business Case. The project team continues to explore options to reduce costs.