In this episode we partnered with WSP to tell the story of Looe, a fishing port in Cornwall. The small town has the dubious accolade of ‘most flooded place in England’, and without intervention, the situation will get much worse. 

With sea levels rising by as much as a metre over the next century, and the land sinking due to the retreat of the glaciers following the last glacial maximum, flood events will become simply ‘high tide’ in the future. A 1-in-1,000 year flooding event is also expected to be an annual occurrence by 2100.

To stop this happening, a flood defence scheme is proposed. But to make it viable and unlock government funding, the team involved need to prove that it will regenerate the region economically, as well as pass stringent environmental hurdles.

Guests

Hamish Hall, Head of Profession for Water, WSP

Tina Hicks, Harbourmaster, Looe Harbour Commissioners

Tom Fletcher, Strategic Projects Team Manager, Environment Agency

Partner

As one of the world’s leading engineering professional services consultancies, WSP brings clarity and vision to complex challenges. Their team of technical specialists and strategic advisers across the UK is part of a talented global family of expertise. Together, they ensure innovative solutions solve complex problems for our clients and the communities we serve, meeting both the needs of today and addressing the challenges of the future.

Resources

For more information on the Looe flood defence scheme, click here.