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River Great Ouse: Flood Control

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 19 January 2026UIN 104940

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential benefit to flood alleviation of replacing St Ives sluice gates with a weir.

Answered by Emma Hardy

The Environment Agency is assessing the potential flood alleviation benefits and impacts of a range of options, including the replacing of the St Ives sluice with a weir, through the current project development.

The project’s objective is to maintain the upstream water level for navigation and the option delivering the best value for money will be taken forward, in line with Government spending policies.

The assessment for each option and associated flood risk impacts will be based on fluvial modelling.

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