The Flood Hub

The Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme will span Padiham Town Centre from Station Road Bridge to the Former Baxi Site off Wyre Street. The scheme will also include a small section of Green Brook, up to Green Lane.

 

 

All flood schemes go through a process of public consultation, engineering analysis, environmental assessment, and economic appraisal before agreement is made on a preferred set of options. The preferred options must then be approved by planning committees before any work can commence.

The Environment Agency gained planning permission in August 2024 by Burnley Planning Committee for the main Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme (Sections 1-4 of the scheme). Section 5 has been de-coupled, and the design will be progressed separately. The next stage will be the approval of the full business case, before the Environment Agency can start on main construction works.

Two sections of the scheme have been constructed under the Environment Agency’s permitted development powers, while the remaining construction works will resume in Spring 2026 which can be seen below in the timeline of works.

As shown below in the timeline, the dates have moved slightly later from previous timelines as it has taken the Environment Agency time to fill the funding gap and to get the project team back together. The detailed design package of the scheme is underway and estimated to be finalised in August 2025. Following on from this, there are Environment Agency funding assurance steps that must be met before they can get in contract with the construction team in Autumn 2025. The construction of the Scheme will commence in Spring 2026 and be finalised before Winter 2028. The construction timeframe has been delayed due to:

• A high specification of the detail design package being produced, which gives the Environment Agency certainty over future costs.
• A realistic and robust programme being established. They have learnt lessons from other projects where early commencement with an incomplete design and substantial uncertainties led to unforeseen risks, additional costs, and longer construction times.

 

 

 

The Environment Agency have submitted a full planning application for the proposed main scheme, which has been granted by the Burnley Borough Council, subject to conditions. You can view details of the project’s applications on the Councils Website:

• Town Hall Works – CEA/2021/0706 | Flood defence walls associated with the Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme. | Riley Street Padiham BB12 8BS (burnley.gov.uk)
• Bendwood Works – CEA/2022/0226 | Flood defence walls associated with the Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme | Land At Bendwood Close / River Calder Padiham BB12 8RT (burnley.gov.uk)
• Main Scheme – FUL/2023/0729 | Development associated with the Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme (burnley.gov.uk)

 

The whole life cost of the scheme has increased to £37 million.  This is due to the increased price of materials and the design stage identifying further work including:

• measures to deal with the complex ground conditions
• the replacement of Bendwood Footbridge
• strengthening works to Padiham Bridge

The scheme is fully funded through the following sources secured by the Environment Agency and Burnley Borough Council.

1. Grant in Aid funding for flood defence schemes
2. The North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee,
3. Lancashire Enterprise Partnership,
4. Other Government Department fund
5. Direct Government growth funding.

 

If you have any further questions about the scheme, please contact the Environment Agency by email: [email protected]. The Environment Agency will aim to respond within 20 working days.

Social media: @EnvAgencyNW

 

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