A major £42 million flood scheme has officially opened, providing improved protection from flooding for homes, businesses, and essential services in Tonbridge and Hildenborough. The expanded Leigh flood storage area and new Hildenborough embankment scheme are designed to reduce flood risk for 1,870 homes and 575 businesses, as well as communities further downstream along the River Medway.
The project has increased the capacity of the Leigh flood storage area by around 23 per cent. By raising the maximum stored water level at the control structure by 55 centimetres, the area can now hold approximately 7.4 million cubic metres of floodwater.
The scheme is intended to help communities address the increasing challenge of climate change, which includes a higher likelihood of more frequent, severe storms and extremely wet winters. The project has also enhanced the reliability and resilience of the structure, aiming to continue reducing flood risk for the next 50 years.
The original Leigh flood storage area, completed in 1982, was operated 75 times between 1981 and summer 2026 to reduce flood risk. The new Hildenborough scheme includes a 98-metre embankment, a new pumping station on the Hawden Stream, and a sheet-piled wall to prevent water from the River Medway backing up into Hildenborough.