Significant progress made to address flooding issues in Hickling and Sutton

Published on behalf of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance.

Partners from the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA) have been working together and taking action to tackle long-standing flooding challenges in Hickling and Sutton.

These two villages have suffered from severe impacts during recent storms, including Storm Babet in 2023. In Sutton, not only was there flooding from the staithe but this was compounded by the flooding of the foul sewers into roads, gardens, and properties.

In response, NSFA partners including Norfolk County Council, Anglian Water and the Water Management Alliance (WMA) have worked collaboratively to deliver a comprehensive programme of improvements.

Henry Cator, Chairman of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance, said: "This collaborative effort demonstrates the strength of partnership working in Norfolk. We have tackled the root causes of flooding in Hickling and Sutton. With this, we are not only protecting homes and businesses but also building resilience for the future. I am grateful to all those involved for their commitment to delivering these vital improvements."

Local resident Sue Adkins has spent a lot of time raising awareness of the flooding and flood related issues. She and her husband, Steve, have worked with the multi-agency group, coordinated by the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance to get the improvements delivered.

She commented "We're really pleased with the improvements made in our village. Knowing that decent investment has gone into improving flood defences near our home has lifted a huge weight off our minds. It was important to us that the community was involved in the process and we worked closely with the different agencies involved, as well as our MP, on behalf of everyone in Hickling. Seeing all the organisations collaborating so effectively with each other and getting the work done has been incredibly reassuring."

What's been done in Hickling?

• Norfolk County Council Highways repaired a collapsed culvert on Staithe Road, restoring the surface water drainage system.
• Anglian Water found and stopped surface water from being wrongly connected to the foul sewer.
• Significant repairs to privately owned assets have been completed to prevent surface water from entering the river and stop river water from entering the foul sewer, reducing connectivity issues caused by misconnection or asset failure.
• 650m of foul sewer was cleaned and checked, confirming no ground water infiltration was evident or structural concerns within the system.
• In the Hickling area the Broads Internal Drainage Board (IDB) and the Water Management Alliance (WMA) have undertaken regular maintenance work and worked with partners to help manage flood risk. Clearing main arterial surface water drains in the village close to Stubb Road which help water flow from the village to pumping stations at Stubb Mill, Eastfield and Brograve.
• In the wider catchment flood defence repairs and maintenance on behalf of the Environment Agency have taken place; this work helps protect the low-lying areas to the south and east of Hickling, helping the wider drainage network cope with tidal surges and high rainfall.
• Larger chambers with non-return valves were installed to protect the properties worst hit during Storm Babet.
• About 700m of culvert and surface water sewer along Hickling Green was cleared and inspected.
• Norfolk County Council's Highways team cleared ditches along Hickling Green.

What's been done in Sutton?

• Independent investigations by the WMA and Anglian Water showed very little surface water is connected to the foul sewer.
• A review showed that historic changes and lack of maintenance by ripairian owners to ditches were stopping proper drainage. This is now being addressed through a Water Level Management Plan (WLMP) by the Water Management Alliance (WMA), working with Natural England.
• A flap will be fitted on the outfall near the staithe in early 2026 to stop river water flooding the ditch network.
• A river level monitor has been installed to track how the river interacts with Sutton's ditch system.
• Around 1000m of Highways sewer and gullies along Yarmouth Road were cleaned and surveyed.

Daniel Wray NSFA Water Management Director said "The engagement from the parish and local residents has been driven proactivity and what's really pleasing has been maintenance on culverts, ditches and pipe work. The removal of surface water from the foul system will all help to keep the water flowing as it should. There is still work to do and future meetings will determine how to best deliver the remaining, however this is incredibly proactive and exactly what we need to see and should be used as the exemplar."