£6.2 million flood protection scheme completes in Catterick

The Environment Agency has successfully partnered with Highways England to deliver a jointly-funded flood protection scheme that will safeguard both the A1(M) at Catterick and an additional 149 properties.

The flood protection scheme can be traced back to September 2012, when Catterick was subject to a major flood event which left some 130 properties waterlogged and brought the A1(M) to a two day standstill. In a matter of hours the regional economy took a bruising £2 million hit.

Now a new flood reservoir, built to accommodate overspill between Brough Park and the A1(M), has officially opened. Its immense six metre high embankments will be able to hold 91 million gallons of water – equivalent to 130 Olympic swimming pools for all you statisticians out there.

The scheme has also slowed the flow of water through Brough Beck, previously prone to overflowing in severe weather conditions. Here, the Environment Agency’s internal field operations team has introduced artificial meanders in the beck and built a control structure housing two ‘hydro-brakes’ to manage the overall flow of water.

Five hectares of new habitat have also been created, including wetlands, bat habitats, owl nesting and meadowland.

“As well as reducing flood risk to local homes and businesses, this flood defence will protect a main traffic artery through Yorkshire which has been affected in recent years,” said Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency.

“We are always looking for innovative ways to get the most benefit from our flood schemes, and by also creating five hectares of new habitat, this is a fantastic example of how working together can bring multiple benefits for the local community, economy and environment.”

Peter Mumford, Executive Director of Major Projects and Capital Portfolio Management at Highways England, added: “This area suffered badly due to severe weather in 2012 and the A1 is a vitally important route which supports the UK economy so we must do all we can to keep traffic moving freely along it.

“We’re pleased to have worked with partners on this solution which helps protect the local community and lets drivers have safe journeys.”

The Catterick flood storage reservoir passed its first true test in March, after the snow melt in the Dales led to flood water streaming down the valley.

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