Lagoon Hull: Your Questions Answered

Progress on one of Hull’s biggest and most transformative projects continues to gather pace.

But, with still some time to go before boots hit the ground and the building work gets underway, the hard work on making Lagoon Hull a reality is taking place behind the scenes.

Our project team is still planning and engaging with our key stakeholders to ensure Lagoon Hull works for everyone and we continue to spread the word on our social media channels and in our new monthly newsletter about what it means for the region..

Each and every day, we receive questions about how the finished article will look, how it will benefit the people of Hull and the East Riding and how it will complement the wildlife that already call the area home.

Here we’ve gathered some of the most common questions we’ve answered over recent months to explain everything from the costs involved in the project to how communities living alongside the River Hull will see their lives improved.

And if we haven’t got to your question this time, get in touch via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn.

Q) How will a Lagoon result in more freely flowing road traffic? A lagoon is mainly water, isn't it?

A) Lagoon Hull is a transformative approach to improving Hull’s future on a range of fronts. First and foremost, the project is about creating a destination to be proud of, where people want to live and visitors want to stay.

The aim is to build a six-mile causeway in the Humber Estuary which will provide an opportunity to better manage storm events within the River Hull catchment area by providing large-scale storage during high water periods.

The causeway will also double up as a road which will alleviate pressure on the existing traffic network by taking traffic away from Hull city centre.

Q) The project is ridiculously expensive. Is it worth it?

A) It is a significant investment, yes. But with the potential to create 19,000 new jobs and deliver £1bn gross value added (GVA) each year to our economy, we believe it’s money well spent.

Q) Has the impact of narrowing the River Hull, and potentially reducing its flow, been considered and could it cause flooding in upstream communities?

A) Three independent bodies – the Environment Agency, ABPmer and the University of Hull – have conducted studies that are all in agreement: by constructing Lagoon Hull, the city of Hull will be protected for 100 years, without adversely affecting the rest of the region. 

Many communities in the East Riding, including around Beverley, will find that the River Hull will become non-tidal, meaning water levels will become more consistent. Lagoon Hull will therefore also provide significant opportunities for more people to engage in water activities and enjoy the natural beauty of the estuary.

In the Humber, most of the water is made up of the tidal flow and all the modelling work carried out on Lagoon Hull so far has shown that narrowing the Humber past the Lagoon actually reduces the incoming tidal flow and subsequently lowers the high-water levels,  reducing the risk of flooding to both the south and north banks of the Humber.

Q) Why spend even more money on a dedicated road just to divert traffic that never enters Hull anyway?

A) Lagoon Hull will improve the capacity of our road network by giving the Holderness plain better access to the M62 corridor.

Currently, traffic heading from east to west tends to go via Castle Street which often struggles to cope with the quantity of traffic trying to use it at peak times. Traffic being at a standstill increases carbon emissions which can have significant health and environmental impacts.

Q) Will it just push more water over to the south bank of the Humber?

A) Initial studies suggest that there will be significant reductions in flooding from Immingham upriver into the River Trent and the River Ouse. Downstream from Immingham, indications are that there would be little or no change. 

Q)  How can people across the Humber help to raise funds and show our support?

A) Our local MPs are already pressing for Government support, but they need to hear from people that we're all backing the project. So it’s important to sign the wave of support on our website to show the ever-growing swell of positivity behind the project.

Q) By the time this would be built, most people should be using electric vehicles or using massively upgraded, cleaner and more reliable public transport. Is reducing emissions from congestion a valid reason for constructing Lagoon Hull?

A) We would hope most people will be using more sustainable modes of transport – like electric cars – by the time Lagoon Hull is in place but the reality is that congestion will still be a significant factor affecting commuters and freight traffic heading into and out of the city and its docks.
 
However, alleviating the pressure on our roads is just one of the key pillars of the project, which will bring benefits far beyond our transport infrastructure.

Q) There are great swathes of underutilised industrial land in the Humber that could already be used for renewables manufacturing. Is building the Lagoon in an estuary which has multiple protections the best use of existing land and infrastructure resources?

A) In terms of renewables manufacturing, our plan is to unlock existing land that  is currently strategically difficult to build on, in order to create new opportunities.

In terms of the protected status of the Humber, we are engaging with multiple key stakeholders, including the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, to ensure it works for our wildlife, as well as our residents and visitors.
 
As our plans develop we’ll continue to engage with our whole community.

Q) I don’t know enough about the project but it might be that the money needed could be better spent elsewhere. How can we find out more and why should I support it? 

A) This is a far-reaching project, with a long-term view, to transform our region for the future and create a sustainable city that’s a wonderful place to live and visit.

Our plans are not yet finalised, so we’re not yet at the public consultation stage. That being said, we’re keen to receive feedback on the concept, so we can create a Lagoon that works for everyone.

You can find out more about the project here. If you like what you have read, you can add your name to the wave of support for the project here.