A community celebration has taken place to officially open the £7 million Brunton Park joint flood reduction scheme in Newcastle started by Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency in October 2014.
It is the first time in the UK that a water company has done construction work on behalf of the Environment Agency.
The scheme reduces the risk of flooding to more than 100 properties in Brunton Park - the three sources of flooding were from the water company’s surface and foul sewer networks and from the River Ouseburn.
The work involved installing 380 metres of new river channel to divert the Ouseburn from the area that suffers from flooding; using the current section of Ouseburn river channel and a new storage basin to drain and store more than seven million litres of surface water; constructing 650 metres of flood defences (walls and earth embankment) and installing two kilometres of new sewer pipe and a new storage tank, which holds up to 450,000 litres of storm sewage.
The newly created river channel and storage basin, known as SuDS (sustainable urban drainage system), has also created a valuable wetland habitat for wildlife. Kingfisher perches and an otter holt will also be installed.
Paul Davison, Northumbrian Water’s project manager, said:
“After two years it’s been great to show the residents what we have been doing and how this project will reduce the risk of flooding to their homes. The community’s response to our presence in Brunton Park for such a long time has been fantastic, so this was a chance to thank them for their patience.”
Reducing the risk of flooding is one of Northumbrian Water’s key priorities and the partnership approach taken at Brunton Park, working in this unique way with the Environment Agency, has led to an innovative approach to tackling flood risk.
Tina Robinson, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, added:
“The Brunton Park scheme is an excellent example of how working in partnership, and tackling flooding at all its sources, can result in an integrated and sustainable solution.”
Waterbriefing is media partner with the Environment Agency’s major three-day conference and exhibition Flood and Coast 2017 which takes place from 28th to 30th March 2017 in Telford. Click here for more information
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