Around 113,000 homes and businesses in Hull are set to be better protected from the risk of flooding after central government signed off a £42m defence scheme.

Subject to planning approval, work is set to start this summer on the project which aims to upgrade infrastructure at eight locations along the Humber estuary with over 7 kilometres of defences set to be improved.

The Humber Hull Frontage Improvement Scheme, led by the Environment Agency, will cover St. Andrew’s Quay and Victoria Dock Village and result in reduced flood risk for tens of thousands along the estuary and provide a 1 in 200 year standard of protection.

Floods minister Thérèse Coffey said: ‘I am delighted that the owners of 113,000 homes and businesses in and around Hull will benefit from a fully government funded flood defence improvements which will help for many decades to come. This new flood defence scheme costing £42m from taxpayers’ money has been well supported by the city council and a number of other key partners, showing what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal.”

Ministers say the defences will include some areas of glass panels to maintain a view of the waterfront and recessed sections to display artistic works. Opportunities for public art and community involvement will also be integrated into the scheme, at areas including Victoria Dock Village and St Andrew’s Quay Retail park.

Allan Rogers, BAM Nuttall National Framework director, said: “We are delighted to be involved with another significant flood alleviation scheme for the Environment Agency. It’s a scheme that will deliver outcome measures that will lessen the flood risk to business and homes. We are committed to delivering the scheme efficiently and with stakeholder issues in mind.”

Donald Daly, project manager for Arup, added: "Coastal Flooding is one of the most serious threats facing the UK. That’s why it is so important that Hull, the country’s largest at-risk urban area outside of London, has received government approval for additional tidal flood defences. Using a range of technologies to collect and make sense of vast amounts of data, we’ve developed plans that will improve defences to account for anticipated changing weather patterns and sea level rises over the next 100 years."

The Environment Agency and local partners are now in the process of developing an advanced approach to managing flooding in tidal areas by the River Humber for the next 100 years. It’s hoped work on the £42m scheme will be completed by 2020.