£90m partnership to tackle flooding and wastewater using smart technology and dry gardens

December 4, 2025

Southend-on-Sea City Council is working with Anglian Water on a £90 million programme to tackle flooding, improve wastewater systems, and create greener public spaces across the city.

The Advanced Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) is a 10-year initiative aiming to:

Eliminate Combined Sewer Outfall (CSO) spills

educe surface water flooding

Enhance public spaces and increase biodiversity

Residents will see tangible improvements to streets and neighbourhoods, with rain gardens installed across the city.

One highlight is the Marine Parade Green Oasis, a Levelling Up-funded scheme with £500,000 from Anglian Water and £800,000 from the Environment Agency. It’s currently in the design phase and will form part of the wider programme.

Another innovative scheme is the use of ‘smart water butts’ that, subject to planning conditions, can store and hold large volumes of rainwater and then release them at a later point, to reduce surface flooding at key times.

Cllr Lydia Hyde, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment & Waste, said: “If approved by cabinet, our partnership with Anglian Water will focus on eliminating combined sewer overflow spills, reducing surface water flooding and improving water quality, while also enhancing public spaces and boosting biodiversity across Southend.

“Our residents care deeply about protecting our coastline, and this partnership shows that we’re acting on their concerns by investing in real, practical measures to reduce sewage releases, delivering action for our residents, not just words.

“Projects like the Marine Parade ‘Green Oasis’ demonstrate how this partnership works in practice. Anglian Water has contributed funding to help deliver these improvements, and while the scheme is still in the design phase, it’s an exciting example of how we can transform public spaces for the benefit of everyone.

“Across the city, similar initiatives, including rain gardens on grass verges and other green infrastructure, will help manage surface water sustainably and make our neighbourhoods cleaner, greener and more resilient, as well as more attractive places to live, building on our Civic Pride.”