Government gives £5m boost to Rochdale flood defence scheme
DEFRA minister Therese Coffey announced £5m funding towards one of the largest inland flood defence schemes in the North West
Last updated 20th Jul 2018
A £46m flood defence scheme to be built in the borough of Rochdale is set to be given a major boost by the government.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) minister Therese Coffey today announced £5m funding towards the project.
The news comes following the Boxing day floods in 2015, which damaged 324 properties in Rochdale and Littleborough.
Around 18,000 properties were also left without power, as a number of businesses were affected as well.
Councillor Neil Emmott, cabinet member for environment at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We saw first-hand the devastation the boxing days floods caused here in Rochdale, with people’s homes and businesses severely affected.
“A number of flood defence measures have already been put in place since these events, including the storage basin at Calder Brook, but this is by far the biggest flood alleviation project in the borough and it’s something we’ve been working on with the Environment Agency for a number of years.
“This will have a transformative effect on the areas around the River Roch and make a huge difference to our residents and businesses.”
The scheme, expected to deliver £455m worth of benefits over its lifetime, will involve building a series of storage reservoirs along the River Roch and its tributaries from Littleborough to Rochdale town centre.
Improvements in flood protection are also expected for 1,000 residential properties, 200 local businesses as well as major infrastructure.
There are also plans to implement flood alleviation measures for Green Vale Brook, Town House Brook, Ealees Brook and Buckley/Hey Brook.
The council, Transport for Greater Manchester, the North West Regional and Coastal Flood Committee also contributed money for the project.
The Environment Agency, who are working with the council, will finalise preferred scheme plans and work is expected to start in the summer of 2019.
A spokesperson for the environment agency said: “This is fantastic news for the Rochdale and Littleborough communities and something we have been waiting for a long time.
“We have been working on this scheme alongside Rochdale Borough Council and the local community to ensure a robust flood protection scheme is in place, to better protect 1000 homes and 200 businesses.
“Securing this funding is a great example of how working in partnership can help us get the best scheme for the area and we are delighted to be in a position to progress the project to its next stage.”
Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, said: “The 2015 Boxing Day floods were devastating for businesses and the families whose homes were flooded.
“Something had to be done so the hard work by Rochdale Council, in particular Councillor Neil Emmott and Francis Comyn, who joined Liz McInnes and myself in a delegation to the minister Teresa Coffey, was welcome and pleasing to see.
“The evidence was overwhelmingly in favour and I welcome this funding."