Environment Minister Rebecca Pow MP attended a launch event yesterday to mark the official start of work on a major £6.2 million flood risk management scheme at Beales Corner in Bewdley, Worcestershire.
Arup is the lead designer for the scheme and Jackson Civil Engineering is the lead contractor. The new protection consists of a combination of demountable flood barriers and permanent raised walls with glass panels on top to maintain views across the river.
As part of the scheme, off-site environmental improvements will take place at Limekiln Bridge Storage area to support habitats for wildlife and increase biodiversity in hedgerows and trees.
Once complete, the scheme will reduce flood risk from the Rivern Severn for more than 50 properties and maintain access to 160 businesses, as well as schools and other public services in the town.
The project will replace the low-level temporary flood barriers currently used and provide a far higher standard of flood protection.
Rebecca Pow also announced that the Bewdley scheme will be one of three in the area to share £9.3 million in additional funding, reallocated from economic recovery funding. The Beales Corner scheme will receive £1.5 million, Tenbury Wells £4 million and Greyfriars in Hereford £3.8 million.
Environment Agency Operations Manager for the West Midlands Anthony Perry said:
“We are very happy to mark the official start of the main construction on this important and much-needed flood risk management scheme at Beales Corner.
“We know the devastating impact flooding can have, which is why protecting the people of Bewdley is our top priority as we adapt to the increased threat of flood events caused by climate change.”
Bewdley is subject to significant flood risk from the River Severn and has flooded a number of times in the past decade. Houses and businesses have flooded, with transport links and commuter routes through the town also affected.
After flooding in 2020, the Government made funding available for the communities impacted, enabling the Environment Agency to consider a flood risk management scheme for the Beales Corner area of Bewdley and keep the main Kidderminster and Stourport roads into the town open at times of flood.
The construction work will take approximately 18 months to two years to complete, depending on weather conditions, flooding and interactions with historic structures.
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