Multi-million pound plans to expand a flood storage area have been given the green light.

The Environment Agency has proposed building a flood embankment and pumping station in Hildenborough, near Tonbridge, to protect more homes from flooding.

The scheme includes a new embankment, pumping station, kiosk and flood defence wall and will form part of a larger project to increase the capacity of the Leigh Flood Storage Area (FSA).

Once complete, it will reduce the risk of flooding for 1,430 properties – 230 more than it already does.

MP for Tonbridge and Malling Tom Tugendhat said: "Expansion of the Leigh FSA and the Hildenborough expansion scheme will help defend thousands of residents from flooding.

"I am pleased this crucial landmark has been passed and construction can start next year.

"This project will help protect us from flooding caused on the River Medway and its tributaries and I look forward to the works starting."

Planning permission was granted by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) with works starting on the £21.5 million project in spring 2023 for the Leigh FSA and 2024 for Hildenborough.

Works at the FSA will increase its capacity by around 25% meaning the completed scheme will hold more than seven million cubic metres of water.

It will involve refurbishing the three floodgates on the River Medway, raising parts of the of existing embankments and constructing a new eel pass to the south of the control structure.

The flood storage area sits between the villages of Leigh and Penshurst and when full, it covers about 278 hectares.

It is formed by a 1.3km long, five-metre-high earth embankment across the Medway valley, with the River Medway passing through three steel gates built into the embankment.

The gates control the amount of water flowing downstream by either letting the river flow normally, or regulating it to hold water in the storage area.

TMBC cabinet member for environment and climate change, Cllr Robin Betts, said: "Approval of these proposals is a crucial milestone in this major project, enabling work to start and the risk of flooding to homes and businesses to be significantly reduced.

"This is especially important as we confront the increase in extreme weather we are all experiencing due to climate change."

Earlier this month, the village of Leigh was cut off from the main road into Tonbridge as the FSA was flooded following heavy bouts of rain.

The project is being funded by the government’s Flood Defence Grant in Aid with contributions from TMBC, Kent County Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP).

It is part of government plans to invest £5.2 billion in flood defence over the next six years.

SELEP chairman Christian Brodie added: "It will also unlock new sites in the future, allowing Tonbridge and Hildenborough to attract new businesses and residents, creating a culture of growth that will benefit the whole local community."

The full scheme is expected to be completed in autumn 2025.

It is being delivered by the Environment Agency in partnership with KCC, TMBC and SELEP.

The majority of works on the FSA are planned for summer when there is a lower risk of flooding and plans are in place for these periods if the area is needed.