The Environment Agency has completed the £10 million Beales Corner Flood Risk Management Scheme in Bewdley, Worcestershire, delivering a major upgrade to the town’s flood defences that will benefit 50 properties and maintain access to businesses for decades to come.

Photo: Drone shot River Severn revealing improved flood defences

The official opening took place on Friday 12 September 2025 - the ceremony marked the operational completion of the scheme with some minor landscaping work continuing after.

Beales Corner has a long history of flooding from the River Severn - most recently in 2020, 2021 and 2022 where homes and businesses were flooded, and the wider community impacted.

The 300-metre flood defence system includes flood walls, gates and demountable barriers - when flooding is predicted, Environment Agency teams will close flood gates and put up the demountable barriers to prevent floodwater from the Severn entering the area. Key roads in the town will now be dry at times of flooding.

Prior to the scheme temporary barriers were used, however they consisted of 2,000 individual parts and took up to 12 hours to fully install. The EA said the new permanent demountable defences will provide a more sustainable long-term solution for the community.

The work follows on from a multi-million-pound project the Environment Agency completed in 2006 in the area. Demountable barriers were introduced to Severnside, on the west bank of the River Severn, to reduce flood risk to 300 homes and businesses - the barriers have been erected 29 times since 2006.

The barriers have prevented millions of pounds of flood damages as well as the negative social and environmental impacts of flooding. At the same time, Beales Corner trialled temporary barriers but protection was limited due to their height, resulting in the need for the major flood risk management scheme now in place.

Anthony Perry, West Midlands Operations Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

"We are thrilled that the much-needed flood risk management scheme at Beales Corner is operationally complete. Environment Agency flood risk teams have worked closely with residents in the town for decades.

"This new scheme will improve the lives for many people in the town, and it is comforting to know that future generations won’t have to live with the negative flood impacts those in the past have suffered."

A comprehensive rerouting of essential services including gas, electricity, water, sewerage and communications infrastructure was completed to accommodate the new defences. Surface water drainage improvements include pipes with non-return valves and enhanced pumping capabilities to manage rainwater during flood conditions.

After the flooding in 2020, funding was made available by the Government for impacted communities, enabling the Environment Agency to consider a flood risk management scheme.

Removable barriers are stored off-site and only installed when needed. This preserves views of the historic bridge during normal conditions.