Work Starts on Phase Two of Bury Scheme

Construction work is set to begin on the second phase of a multi-million-pound scheme in order to reduce flooding to more than 800 homes and businesses across Radcliffe and Redvales.

The scheme, which is worth £40 million, is part of the Environment Agency’s programme £2.6 billion investment programme into flood defences throughout the country. The Environment Agency will be working in partnership with Bury Council and BAM Nuttall on the scheme and will be delivered in three parts.

It will not only reduce the risk of flooding to hundreds of local homes and businesses, but it also aims to keep transport routes and infrastructure open during times of flood. This will also help maintain vital links in an area which has been severely affected by flooding on a number of occasions.

The work beginning on the second phase of the Radcliff and Redvales Flood Alleviation Scheme will also see a combination of traditional walls and embankments, along with a new wetland habitat, as part of a catchment wide approach to reducing flood risk. The project will also incorporate a flagship Natural Flood Management (NFM) programme. NFM happens when natural processes are used to reduce the risk of flooding. The team are working with partners and landowners throughout the catchment area to deliver a range of measures such as the Lower Hinds wetland and other natural features.

These techniques will hold back water to help reduce the flow of rainwater into the river, as well as help reduce the impact of climate change.

Construction activity for phase two is set to start in July 2020 and will be started at several locations, including Warth Road, Central Avenue, Whitefield Road, Dumers Lane and York Street. When the work begins, much of the left bank of the river will be inaccessible from Lower Hinds, at the top of Warth Road, to Hardy’s Gate Bridge.

With the Environment Agency and Bury Council working in partnership with contractor BAM Nuttall, they hope that any disruption to the public will be kept at a minimum, but have also asked that residents adhere to any warning signage around the area for their own safety.

All works taking place will be undertaken in line with Government guidance on social distancing.

Peter Costello, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager, said: ‘It is heartening to see the next stage of this ambitious scheme to reduce the risk of flooding across Radcliffe and Redvales starting. Seeing further work happening on the ground will hopefully give reassurance to residents and businesses owners that soon they will have measures in place to prevent a repeat of the catastrophic damage and pain caused by the impact of past flooding incidents. The scheme itself is a perfect example of the value of partnership working but also how when we are designing and building these incredible structures, we can regenerate the natural environment and public spaces while still making communities more flood resilient for the future. We look forward to additional progress on the ground in the coming months and will continue to keep residents and businesses affected by our work informed about the scheme at every stage of its development. Community drop in events will restart once it is safe to do so as and when coronavirus restrictions are lifted.’

Cllr Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: ‘In the last five years Bury has been hit by two of the worst storms in history, Storm Eva (Boxing Day 2015) and Storm Ciara in February. During Storm Ciara, the flood defences installed worked and stopped major flooding in Radcliffe; unfortunately Redvales was flooded as there were no defences yet.This next phase will eventually see Redvales protected and give residents the confidence that these defences are in place to stop flooding. Bury Council has contributed £2m to these defences with a further £3m partnership funding from the NW Rivers Floods & Coastal Committee. In 2018 I led a led a delegation from Bury which successfully lobbied for a further £7m from government to make sure that Bury got the flood defences it needed.’

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