The Tees Tidelands project will reduce the risk of flooding, help nature recover and reconnect people with the River Tees estuary.
A ground-breaking set of projects to help the River Tees Estuary adapt to climate change, restore valuable habitat for internationally important wildlife and reconnect the river’s tributaries has officially launched.
With funding of more than £30million, the Tees Tidelands programme aims to realign flood defences, restore mudflat and saltmarsh habitat, and remove tidal barriers so migratory fish can return to rivers where they have been absent for hundreds of years.
In total, Tees Tidelands aims to create over 50 hectares of mudflats, saltmarsh and other valuable estuarine habitats, as well as reducing flood risk for homes and businesses, now and into the future.
Phil Marshall, Senior Advisor for the Environment Agency in the North East, said:
Tees Tidelands will help to safeguard the future economic prosperity of Teesside in a way that enhances the environment, using nature-based solutions to deliver long-term flood risk management.
Allowing the estuary to realign with its natural tidal cycle will create the correct conditions for wildlife to thrive. It will also reconnect the communities of Teesside with their estuary, a relationship gradually lost over the last 200 years.
The official launch of the project is a big moment, and we are grateful for the collective support of our partners as we work to bring the vision of Tees Tidelands to life and deliver these long-term benefits for people and nature.
Matt Vickers MP said:
This programme will contribute incredibly to the Tees Estuary, significantly reducing flood risks for local communities and industries.
Nature’s recovery across the estuary will be strengthened through habitat restoration work, and I am thankful to this Government for working closely with Natural England, the Environment Agency and wider partner organisations to coordinate and deliver the best outcomes for nature.
