Royal HaskoningDHV and its partners, including Morrison Construction, have ensured that hundreds of homes and scores of businesses in Scotland are free from flooding, thanks to a £37million scheme that was delivered on time and an impressive £8 million under budget.

Unveiled this week, the Forres (River Findhorn & Pilmuir) scheme completes the flood protection for the town, which has suffered regular inundation from the River Findhorn and Mosset Burn. A £21million scheme on the Mosset was opened in 2009.

.The Scottish Government met 80 per cent of the scheme cost with the remainder funded by Moray Council.

Unveiling a bronze plaque commemorating the official opening, Dr Aileen McLeod MSP Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform in the Scottish Assembly said:

“I am delighted to be here today for the official opening of the Forres (River Findhorn and Pilmuir) Flood Protection Scheme. I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to provide 80 per cent of the funding that helped to bring this scheme to fruition. This investment demonstrates the Scottish Government’s on-going commitment to do all we can to reduce flood risk in Scotland.”

The scheme is one of five such projects being delivered in Moray, and at £167 million comprises the largest flood alleviation programme in Scotland.

 In addition to the Mosset scheme, two others in Lhanbryde and Rothes have been completed. The final and largest element of the project in Elgin is expected to be completed by August 2015, at a projected cost of £83million.

The Forres (River Findhorn & Pilmuir) scheme will provide a once in a 200-year level of protection from a flooding event to 904 homes and 76 businesses. The one-in-200-year level of protection means that in any one year it has less than a half per cent chance of happening.

The scheme was designed by consultant engineers Royal HaskoningDHV, the main construction contractors were Morrison Construction. Working with Moray Council’s consultancy managers the scheme was brought in nearly £8 million under budget and on schedule.

Convener of Moray Council, Cllr Allan Wright, said that the area’s schemes had a real test last August following exceptionally heavy rainfall. The estimated saving to property and businesses  from that event alone very nearly matched the total cost of both the Elgin and Forres schemes, roughly £105 million.

Work on the Forres (River Findhorn & Pilmuir) flood alleviation scheme commenced in September 2012 after eight years of design work, negotiations with landowners and agreeing funding arrangements.

Works included widening the flood plain, excavating of 185,000 cubic metres of material; a new bridge extension to span the widened river, creation of a 1.8km bund which involved raising the A96 by 2metres; creation of an automatic pumping system with three huge pumps each capable of pumping 1.1cubic metres of water a second.

Diary date: In partnership with the Environment Agency, the Flood Expo which takes place in London on 14^th and 15th October presents solutions to widespread flooding problems from the UK’s leading flood prevention companies, alongside an extensive seminar and workshop schedule highlighting new, cost-effective ways to prevent and manage floods. Click here for more information.