National Flood Resilience Centre

Bond Bryan collaborated with AECOM, researchers from the University of Hull, the University Estates team and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to develop the brief and design for a pioneering combined research and training facility dedicated to flood resilience.

Located within the East Riding of Yorkshire, the project was conceived as a strategic hub for flood resilience research, testing and training at both regional and national scales. Uniquely, the site was deliberately selected within a high-risk flood zone, providing an authentic environment for the testing and evaluation of resilient construction techniques, landscape interventions and critical infrastructure solutions.

Through an extensive options appraisal process, a variety of site layouts were explored to establish the most effective arrangement for phased delivery, operational flexibility and safe shared use. The resulting masterplan creates a highly adaptable environment capable of supporting academic research, commercial product testing and specialist emergency response training.

The facility incorporates a range of purpose-designed testing and training environments, including an artificial river channel with a reconfigurable floodplain, a full-scale training street featuring varied building typologies, an underpass simulation, swift-water rescue facilities and a lake designed for powerboat rescue training exercises.

At the heart of the development sits a 2,000m² support building providing office accommodation, welfare and changing facilities, storage and operational support spaces.

Together, these elements create a unique centre of excellence, enabling collaboration between researchers, industry partners and emergency services to advance understanding, preparedness and innovation in flood resilience.

The facility brings together academic research, commercial product testing and specialist emergency response training within a single environment, creating opportunities for knowledge sharing, innovation and real-world testing at both regional and national scales.

The project was conceived as a strategic hub for flood resilience research, testing and training, providing an authentic environment for the testing and evaluation of resilient construction techniques, landscape interventions and critical infrastructure solutions.

By locating the facility within a high-risk flood zone, the development creates opportunities to better understand, test and improve approaches to flood resilience, supporting future innovation in resilient design, infrastructure and emergency response.