Historical buildings on the waterfront of the River Ouse could be set for new defences to protect them against more frequent flooding due to climate change.
Plans lodged with York Council would see a total of 18 demountable flood barriers installed on 7 King’s Staith, 8A Peckitt Street and 1-3 Friars Terrace in South Esplanade.
The plans, from Flood Technologies Ltd, stated the defences were vital to protect the buildings from potentially significant and permanent damage as flooding becomes more frequent.
The plans would see the brackets installed in front of doors and windows on the buildings and in alleyways between existing walls.
Barriers could then be put into the brackets ahead of floods to stop water getting inside buildings through openings in doorways and windows.
The plans stated the barriers were designed to be sympathetic to the historic buildings that they would be mounted on.
The buildings chosen for the defences include the Grade II-listed 7 King’s Staith which was built in the mid-19th century.
It is currently home to Lil’s Bar & Bistro which is one of a number of pubs, bars and restaurants overlooking the River Ouse in King’s Staith.
Other buildings chosen include 8A Peckitt Street, a Georgian building which is also Grade II-listed and it is home to The Riverside guesthouse.
The buildings in Friar’s Terrace are part of the same block, are Grade II-listed and are residential properties that overlook the River Ouse above South Esplanade.
The plans follow ones approved last year for similar defences for buildings along or near the River Ouse including in Tower Place, Skeldergate and York Magistrates’ Court.
The latest plans stated the barriers were being installed before the seasonal flooding of the River Ouse becoming worse, according to climate forecasts.
Plans stated: “The proposed flood barriers are minimal, and will cause less than substantial harm to the buildings.
“If no measures are put in place, there is a high probability that flooding will cause significant harm to the property’s fabric, such as. permanent damage to the building fabric or any original features caused by the ingress of water.
“Current climate models predict wetter winters as a consequence of climate change and there is no foreseen reduction in risk.
This means that it is vital that flood measures are put in place to protect these buildings from future flood events.”