Northumbrian Water will start work in October on an innovative solution to reduce the risk of flooding in Gateshead.

The North East water company will showcase its green credentials with a sustainable urban drainage solution to help protect homes in an estate in the town.

The 24-week programme of work will involve building two speed bumps along one road to reduce storm water flowing into the estate during times of heavy rainfall. The ‘surface water attenuation humps’ are the first of their kind undertaken by the water company and will work by diverting water into the road gulleys.

They are part of a £600,000 scheme, which also involves the installation of a new 700m sewer pipe and the creation of two sustainable water storage basins.

The grassed storage basins will hold a total of 1.2 million litres of excess surface water in heavy rainfall.

Ashley Ferguson, Northumbrian Water’s project manager, said:

“Reducing the risk of flooding in an efficient and sustainable way, to ensure we are prepared for the future, is one of our top priorities. A first for Northumbrian Water, installing these speed bumps demonstrates a creative and innovative approach to preventing surface water run-off, which is a crucial element in our efforts to tackling flooding.”

Lumsden & Carroll will carry out the scheme on behalf of the water company which will reduce the likelihood of flooding to 18 homes.

Next week Northumbrian Water will separately also start work next week on a £1.1 million scheme to reduce the risk of flooding to homes in a Newcastle suburb. Seymour Civil Engineering Ltd will carry out the six-month programme of work in Jesmond which will reduce the likelihood of flooding to 26 homes.