Work is set to start soon on a multi-million-pound flood alleviation scheme in Littleborough, UK, which will help protect around 1,000 residential properties and 200 local businesses.
The new scheme is led by the Environment Agency in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, Network Rail, the North West RFCC, TfGM, and the Departments for Education and Transport. This scheme will be one of the largest inland flood management projects in the north of England and is one of a number of flood alleviation measures which have taken place across the borough following the Boxing Day floods of 2015.
The first phase of the scheme involves the construction of a storage reservoir at Gale and a programme of measures to improve water flow and flood defences along the River Roch and its tributaries. These measures will improve flood protection for 1,000 residential properties and 200 local businesses.
The project, part of the wider £56m Rochdale and Littleborough flood alleviation scheme, will also protect vital infrastructure, including local transport networks, schools and colleges.
These initial works, scheduled to start early April, will prepare the sites for further construction later this year with a second planning application set to be submitted in the autumn
The next phase of the project will focus on storage reservoirs and flood defence improvements between Smithy Bridge and Rochdale town centre and the whole project is expected to be completed by late 2025.
Environment Agency Flood Risk Advisor, Nick Pearson said: “This is a step closer to constructing the Rochdale and Littleborough Flood Risk Management scheme which is fantastic news as it will benefit residents, businesses, the local economy and local wildlife. The improved flood defences will play a crucial role in better protecting the wider community from the risk of flooding into the future. By delivering these works ahead of constructing the main flood alleviation scheme, we will be able to reduce the risk of unknown issues coming to light and keep any disruption for the local community, to a minimum. All our work will be carried out in line with the Government coronavirus guidelines and activities will continue to be reviewed so that they can be completed safely.”
Rochdale Borough Council Cabinet Member for Quality of Place, Councillor Neil Emmott said: “We’ve been working with the Environment Agency and other partners over a number of years to bring this much needed investment in to help us mitigate the impact of floods, which can have such a devastating impact on communities. This project, one of the biggest flood alleviation schemes in the north of England, will make a huge difference to residents and businesses on the ground and I’m really pleased to see it progress.”
