Increasing flood risk prompts new defences plan

Buildings close to the River Ouse in York city centre could gain improved flood defences.

Plans lodged with City of York Council would see 18 removable flood barriers installed on properties on King's Staith, Peckitt Street and Friars Terrace on South Esplanade.

The application, from Flood Technologies Ltd, stated the defences would protect the buildings from permanent damage as flooding became more frequent.

The firm said the proposed barriers were "minimal" and would not damage the buildings, some of which are listed.

The defences could be placed into brackets ahead of flooding to stop water getting inside buildings through openings in doorways and windows.

Plans state the barriers were designed to be sympathetic to the historic buildings, with the selected locations a mixture of businesses and residential properties.

Similar defences recently approved for locations near the Ouse include buildings in Tower Place, Skeldergate and at York Magistrates' Court.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the applicant said the barriers were required as "climate models predicted wetter winters as a consequence of climate change".

"If no measures are put in place, there is a high probability that flooding will cause significant harm to the property's fabric," they said.

"It is vital that flood measures are put in place to protect these buildings from future flood events."

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