Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme: Upcoming and Completed Works

Introduction

Click here to return to the Padiham Homepage

The Environment Agency, Burnley Borough Council and partners have been working continually since 2017 then to develop proposals for the Padiham Flood Risk Management Scheme. This has included, but has not been limited to, flood modelling, site and ground investigations, environmental assessments, topographic surveys, community and landowner consultations, outline and detailed designs, gaining the necessary permissions for the works and securing further funding to pay for additionally identified work.

Site investigations have taken place over winter-spring 2021 to better inform the understanding of existing walls and old mines in the area. This identified significantly more challenging ground conditions than expected, which has led to further information being required and a second phase of ground investigation works in spring 2022. An understanding as to how this will affect the designs of the flood defences has been required which has impacted the design period. The Environment Agency have been working closely with specific landowners through this process.

Due to these issues, and the subsequent impact of the design process timeframe, the Environment Agency have identified sections of works that can be completed as permitted development rather than those that require formal planning permission. The Environment Agency have started on these areas first.

Gravel is monitored under Padiham Bridge (River Calder) and at Shakespeare Street Bridge (Green Brook) against agreed trigger levels for removal. Clearance has and will continue to take place as required at these locations when the trigger levels are reached.

Invasive Non-Native Species treatment of Japanese Knotweed has taken place in Padiham between summer 2021 and summer 2022, in preparation for the flood defence construction this summer.

Completed Works

Bendwood Estate

Construction works to the rear of Bendwood Estate were completed in April 2024. This consists of a new flood defence wall, in front of the existing retaining wall along the right-hand bank of the River Calder.

A cross sectional image shows the proposed flood defence wall alongside the existing garden wall at Bendwood Estate.

The new flood wall includes several non-return values to improve the drainage of the area whilst maintaining the ability to hold back flood waters.

The Environment Agency have also installed a new flood gate, which will remain closed at all times.

Grey wall along the back of some houses, looking upstream towards a footbridge.

New grey wall along the riverbank with wooden fence panels behind and a block of flats

Town Hall-State of the Nation Wall

The works on the existing flood defence wall, to the rear of Padiham Town Hall are now complete. The previous wall along the right bank of the River Calder between Padiham Bridge and Station Road Bridge was built in 2015 and had a low level of flood protection which would continue to reduce with the impacts of climate change. The Environment Agency have now completed improvement works on the wall, increasing its height to provide an increased standard of protection to Padiham Town Centre.

Proposed plan for Padiham Town Hall works. Click here to download the proposed plan.

Cross section of the Town Hall proposals alongside 3 images. Image 1 shows the previous red-brick wall with black handrail running along the top. Image 2 shows an artist impression of the new wall, still in red brick. Image 3 shows the completed wall, still in red brick but much higher.

Diagrams showing the previous, proposed and completed works to the rear of Padiham Town Hall

Red brick wall with grey coping stones. Newly surfaced road with parking bays and double yellow lines marked out. Trees and Blue sky in the background.

Photo of completed State of the Nation Wall

Please click here to view the video with accessible audio

Drone footage showing the completed flood defence wall behind Padiham Town Hall

Next 6 Months

Main Scheme

The remaining areas will continue with the legally required planning, consents, agreements and approvals. Once this has been completed, the Environment Agency will update this page.

Click here to return to the Padiham Homepage

The Flood Hub