# Leigh flood storage area and Hildenborough defences scheme Publisher: CapexCue Canonical dossier: Dossier reference: release 1 (153adda2-3c3a-4a01-8bfc-3401f549d000) Released project intelligence Oldest supporting observation: 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 Dossier released: 2026-10-15T16:51:02.775076+00:00 Source report dates and capture dates are listed per fact below; neither establishes an event date. ## Project summary An Environment Agency release published on 30 September 2026 reported that the combined Leigh flood storage area and Hildenborough defences scheme had officially opened by that date. At Leigh, the release reports increased storage capacity of about 23%, to approximately 7.4 million cubic metres. Hildenborough works include a 98-metre embankment, a pumping station on the Hawden Stream and a sheet-piled wall. The release says the scheme will reduce flood risk for 1,870 homes and 575 businesses, and identifies about 180 Hildenborough homes affected by flooding in 2013 as benefiting directly from the local works. It cautions that flood defences do not eliminate flood risk. ## Evidence limits and unknowns - The supplied release reports the scheme had opened as of 30 September 2026; it does not establish later project status, a follow-on phase, a current procurement package, or a buying window. - This summary reflects the supplied title and main-text material only. The whole document was not reviewed, linked documents and images were not assessed, and contact-containing material was excluded. Current purchasing availability: unknown. Source-dated plans do not establish current progress or available supplier packages. ## Project metadata Country: United Kingdom Region: Europe Physical assets: Not classified Derived from the exact released evidence; unresolved fields remain unclassified. ## Project category Water and environment Derived from the reviewed scope statement; delivery stage remains unclassified. The completed scheme combines upgrades to the existing Leigh flood storage area with new Hildenborough defences. At Leigh, storage capacity increased by about 23% after the maximum stored-water level at the control structure was raised by 55 cm; the expanded area is reported to hold about 7.4 million cubic metres. Works included new gates, lifting and electrical systems, and moving maintenance platforms. At Hildenborough, works comprise a 98-metre floodplain embankment, a pumping station on the Hawden Stream, and a sheet-piled wall intended to prevent River Medway water backing up into Hildenborough without increasing flood risk elsewhere. The release says the scheme will reduce flood risk to 1,870 homes and 575 businesses; about 180 Hildenborough homes affected by flooding in 2013 are identified as benefiting directly from the new embankment and pumping station, while other properties benefit from Leigh's additional capacity. The release also cautions that defences reduce, but do not eliminate, flood risk. Source: UK Environment Agency / GOV.UK — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-flood-scheme-opens-to-protect-tonbridge-and-hildenborough | published unknown | observed 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 Project overview Oldest decisive evidence: 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 Newest evidence: 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 Knowledge reviewed: 2026-10-15T16:51:02.518795+00:00 Publication reviewed: 2026-10-15T16:51:02.518795+00:00 ## Name Leigh flood storage area and Hildenborough defences scheme Status: reported Attribution: Environment Agency / GOV.UK Source: UK Environment Agency / GOV.UK — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-flood-scheme-opens-to-protect-tonbridge-and-hildenborough | published unknown | observed 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 ## Scope The completed scheme combines upgrades to the existing Leigh flood storage area with new Hildenborough defences. At Leigh, storage capacity increased by about 23% after the maximum stored-water level at the control structure was raised by 55 cm; the expanded area is reported to hold about 7.4 million cubic metres. Works included new gates, lifting and electrical systems, and moving maintenance platforms. At Hildenborough, works comprise a 98-metre floodplain embankment, a pumping station on the Hawden Stream, and a sheet-piled wall intended to prevent River Medway water backing up into Hildenborough without increasing flood risk elsewhere. The release says the scheme will reduce flood risk to 1,870 homes and 575 businesses; about 180 Hildenborough homes affected by flooding in 2013 are identified as benefiting directly from the new embankment and pumping station, while other properties benefit from Leigh's additional capacity. The release also cautions that defences reduce, but do not eliminate, flood risk. Status: reported Attribution: Environment Agency / GOV.UK Source: UK Environment Agency / GOV.UK — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-flood-scheme-opens-to-protect-tonbridge-and-hildenborough | published unknown | observed 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 ## Location The Leigh flood storage area is between Leigh and Penshurst on the River Medway; the other works are at Hildenborough, in the Tonbridge area of Kent. The stated benefits include downstream communities along the Medway. Status: reported Attribution: Environment Agency / GOV.UK Source: UK Environment Agency / GOV.UK — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-flood-scheme-opens-to-protect-tonbridge-and-hildenborough | published unknown | observed 2026-10-06T11:15:41.858603+00:00 ## Cite this dossier CapexCue — Leigh flood storage area and Hildenborough defences scheme — dossier released 2026-10-15T16:51:02.775076+00:00, release 1 (153adda2-3c3a-4a01-8bfc-3401f549d000) — https://capexcue.com/projects/leigh-flood-storage-area-and-hildenborough-defences-scheme-ca2e1271bcfa0355/. For current information and later dossier updates, visit . This file records the release identified above; the current dossier may change.