The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs gives notice under section 14(1)(b), (3A) and (3AA) of the Transport and Works Act 1992 (“the Act”) that she has determined under section 13(1) of the Act to make the Ipswich Barrier Order (“the Order”).

The Order was applied for by the Environment Agency (Anglian Region), Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 5ZR. It will authorise the construction and operation of a flood tidal barrier across the New Cut of the River Orwell, Ipswich. Copies of the Order, once made, may be obtained from the Stationery Office or through booksellers.

The Secretary of State has, pursuant to section 14(1)(a) of the Act, given notice of her determination by way of a decision letter dated 25 June 2012, copies of which may be obtained from Flood Risk Management team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 2D, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AL. That letter gives the reasons for the determination and the considerations upon which it is based; information about the public participation process; and information regarding the right to challenge the validity of the determination and the procedures for doing so.

The Secretary of State confirms that, before making her determination, she considered the environmental statement provided by the applicant and all objections and other representations relating to it, and that she otherwise complied with the obligations referred to in section 14(3A) of the Act including, in relation to such objections, those under section 10 of the Act. She is satisfied that the works authorised by the Order will benefit the area in terms of reducing flood risk and raising the standard of protection in central Ipswich. She has therefore concluded that it is in the public interest to make the Order. For the purposes of section 14(3AA), she confirms that the environmental statement identified no major adverse environmental effects.

Chris de Grouchy, Head of Flood Risk Management, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Area 2D, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AL.