Hull has been pitched alongside Mexico City, Cape Town and Miami when it comes to driving innovation in 鈥榣iving with water鈥.

The estuary city鈥檚 vulnerability is widely known, forming a key challenge to ensure there鈥檚 an economy to thrive in future years as climate change brings higher water levels and more disruptive weather.

And the work underway was highlighted as part of The Waterline Summit agenda, with speakers harking back to the floods seen since the turn of the millennium, and the lessons learned - with University of Hull鈥檚 role highlighted.

A concept for green space north of the city, as well as action at the very heart was also underlined.

Dr Mark Fletcher, lead on water for Arup, a built environment specialist working globally, stressed the importance of keeping or reintroducing blue and green infrastructure in our street scene alongside the grey man-made additions, stressing the quality of life they also bring, while helping cool an urban space.

Working with major metropolitan areas touched by water worldwide, he said: 鈥淗ow cities improve lives is something really important at the moment. Water resilience, catchment at scale. Key words are keep, survive and thrive. If we keep thinking green, blue, grey, we鈥檙e on the right track for rescue and regeneration.

Hull's silent guardian, the Tidal Barrier, straddling the mouth of the River Hull, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. The iconic structure has helped to ensure that the low lying city hasn't suffered more frequent flooding which plagued business, homes and retail premises in the Old Town and along the River Hull corridor.
Hull's silent guardian, the Tidal Barrier, straddling the mouth of the River Hull, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. The iconic structure, alongside The Deep, has helped to ensure that the low lying city hasn't suffered more frequent flooding which plagued business, homes and retail premises in the Old Town and along the River Hull corridor.

鈥淚n Hull the next stage of the water resilience plan is a master plan which has been commissioned for the city. Multi-agencies, working to a common goal, will all help achieve it.鈥

And he told of the importance of listening to those who have lived through it.

鈥淗umility is important, listening to local people, they have experienced this,鈥 he said, stating it was important new proposals didn鈥檛 just land from elsewhere.

The regeneration of Queens Gardens was flagged as a strong 'green and blue' project.

Nevil Muncaster, chief strategy and regulations officer for Yorkshire Water, is a board member of the Living With Water partnership that is now three years on in the city.聽

鈥淲ater shapes the Humber and the main businesses, the ports, offshore wind industry and agriculture around it,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is also a major estuary susceptible to water-based events, coastal and surface water flooding and it also has one of the fastest eroding coastlines.聽

鈥淚t is critical we work together, plan, adapt and minimise the impact. If we do it all together we will improve, support regional growth and provide a benefit for people who live and work here.

鈥淟iving With Water is a real demonstration of how we can work together as agencies to protect the city and surrounding East Riding from flooding.

Nevil Muncaster, chief strategy and regulations officer for Yorkshire Water.
Nevil Muncaster, chief strategy and regulations officer for Yorkshire Water.

鈥淲ater has no boundaries, it is about managing water before it gets into the city as much as when it gets there.

鈥淚t is absolutely critical we have long term planning and I really welcome the master plan.

These things are now happening as we work together and the ambition is interesting.

鈥淨ueens Gardens, for a modern city, is creating a wonderful event space with water management at the heart. There are plans to plant 330 trees and existing ponds are being modernised so they can retain surface water and then return it to the system when safe.

鈥淨ueens Gardens is truly living with water.鈥

He also told of further plans.聽

鈥淭here鈥檚 also a concept surface water site for the north of the city,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t is an opportunity to create green space, improve biodiversity and it gives people somewhere to go.

鈥淲ith new business and housing we can create living with water.鈥

The 鈥榩op up鈥 rain forest cover crop trial was also highlighted as a potential flood alleviator, a programme involving Yorkshire Water, University of Hull and Birds Eye鈥檚 pea growers in the region.

A concept development eyed up for Hull's hinterland to hold surface water and make a feature of it.
A concept development eyed up for Hull's hinterland to hold surface water and make a feature of it as part of the Living With Water strategy.

Hosted by Dr David Richards, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise at University of Hull, he said the institution was 鈥渨orking really hard to ensure the Humber was a world leader in the transition to a low carbon environment,鈥 adding that 鈥渢he region has a key part to play in the 海角视频 economy, only it needs to be resilient鈥.

鈥淭his provides a strong foundation to take this forward and for he Humber to be the leader,鈥 he added.

Opening the event, Marketing Humber chairman Andy Parkinson had told how The Waterline Summit was here to facilitate "collaboration, bringing people together, and all about solutions and opportunities the Humber has".

"There is no better place to do this than the Humber, this is what this event drives and the reason we want to do it every year with a fantastic network of people and businesses."