About the Board

The Board’s drainage district extends to an area of 11,250 hectares which is formed predominantly of the coastal strip extending from the Humber bridge southwards to Grimsby.  The area no longer under agricultural cultivation is some 3800 hectares which gives an indication as to the extent to which the drainage district has been developed.  The drainage of the District is dependent upon both gravity outfalls and pumping to the Humber Estuary.  Along the Estuary Frontage there are some 10 gravity outfalls of varying size and complexity and 6 pumping stations in the main draining the more southerly part of the District.  Whilst gravity outfalls have the advantage of much reduced maintenance and operation costs they have a vulnerability to malfunction and their effectiveness is very much influenced by siltation levels both in the Humber Estuary and that which is able to pass into the Drain itself.

Within the district the Board are responsible for a total of 130km of watercourse of which 27km are vital to the protection of intensely developed areas with a high standard of maintenance required to protect the huge investment and maintain confidence in the area for existing and potential interests.

Whilst residential and infrastructure development has been significant it is the industrial investment which is most significant, increasing the national importance of the area at the same time changing the landscape.

Among the numerous drainage districts in England and Wales, that administered by the North East Lindsey Drainage Board has the greatest concentration of industry including petrochemical plants and other major industrial complexes.

Despite the industrial physical dominance of the District, the Board’s operations are very necessary to sustain 7450 hectares of agricultural land and without which farming would not be viable.  The individual farms in combination represent a substantial industry both directly and indirectly.  The standard of flood protection and drainage provides, within the district, an area which continues to attract considerable development. Alongside long established industry, more recent developments include Yorkshire Forwards 52 hectare Business park at Grimsby, Humber Powers power station at Stallingborough and Conoco Global’s combined heat and power plant at South Killingholme.  The three combining to represent an investment of about £1 billion.

The Habrough Marsh scheme carried out by the Board released 101 hectares of land for development within totally industrialised area of Immingham Docks. An additional benefit arising from the scheme was to take advantage of newly created flood storage areas in which to create habitats.  This conservation initiative is jointly funded by the Board and Associated British Ports with advice from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.