The Environment Agency has completed a major flood scheme which will reduce flood risk for 333 properties and unlocks £75 million regeneration opportunities.
Photo: Fowlea Brook flood wall, with a new development being build behind it
The Fowlea Brook Flood Risk Management Scheme in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, is a major upgrade to the town’s flood defences that will benefit 333 homes and businesses.
The Fowlea Brook runs through the heart of the city and quickly fills up during heavy rainfall. With extreme weather conditions becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, better flood protection was urgently needed.
The scheme consists of new flood walls and embankments, and a flood gate. Work involved repairs and upgrades to over 500 metres of the channel, extending its lifespan for another 60 years.
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for regeneration, transport and infrastructure at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, commented:
“The completion of the Fowlea Brook Flood Defence Scheme is a significant milestone for our city.
“This project will provide long-term protection for homes, businesses, key infrastructure and any potential development on the surrounding brownfield land, helping to reduce the risk of flooding and giving residents, business owners and investors greater peace of mind.
“The project will help bring underused, former industrial and commercial land back into productive use, reinforcing our commitment to regenerating brownfield sites first wherever possible.
“We’re grateful to the Environment Agency for delivering this important scheme and for their commitment to protecting our communities from the impacts of extreme weather and climate change.”
The Environment Agency’s project has helped unlock major regeneration in the area, with three housing developments worth £15 million already under construction, creating 238 new homes. A further 6 sites are in the planning system with the potential to deliver over 350 homes and a regional AI hub, worth over £60 million.
The project has also created a better environment for wildlife. A barrier that prevented fish from swimming upstream has been removed, reopening 6.5km of the brook for fish migration. Brown trout and chub found during construction can now move freely along the waterway. The concrete channel has been redesigned to create more natural habitats and encourage greater biodiversity.
Mark Swain, West Midlands Flood Risk Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:
“We are delighted to have completed the Fowlea Brook Flood scheme and we look forward to seeing the benefits it brings for years to come.
“This project is essential for lowering flood risk for 333 properties and for unlocking multimillion pound regeneration opportunities.
“We are already seeing the effects of climate change in the UK. We’re working to reduce flood risk for communities, with climate change projection built into the design of any scheme to ensure they are fit for the future.”
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