There has been coverage in the Daily Telegraph and ENDs Report around the Hoveton Broad Restoration Project.
This £4.5m restoration project, led by Natural England, seeks to improve the ecological condition of Hoveton Great Broad and Hudson’s Bay in Norfolk Broads. Hoveton Great Broad was once a clear plant-rich lake but for many years it’s been in a mucky, brown, lifeless state due to poor-quality polluted water entering it from the River Bure. Without clear water, plants cannot thrive and without the plants, the lake cannot support the wonderful variety of fish, birds and insects that it once did.
The Environment Agency is currently investigating whether Natural England and the Hoveton Project should have applied for a flood permit for the structures, as reported by the Telegraph. EA flood permits have previously been approved for the project following an independent flood risk assessment that concluded the project as a whole did not pose a flood risk.
Simon Hawkins and Hannah Thacker, Environment Agency and Natural England East of England Area Managers said:
Working in partnership, Natural England and the Environment Agency are seeking to restore Hoveton Great Broad and Hudson's Bay back to wildlife rich havens.
We are currently examining whether two structures installed by Natural England and the Hoveton Restoration Project to help restore the broad needed a permit.
By using this state of the art technology and proven ground-breaking techniques like bio-manipulation and sediment removal, the 37 hectares site will be transformed to an idyllic aquatic haven for wildlife. Further information on the project is available on its website, which is linked here. Natural England has a statutory duty to restore the sites to Favourable Condition.