The Environment Agency is delivering a Flood Risk Management Scheme to better protect homes, schools, and businesses along sections of the River Ribble and River Darwen. The Scheme will also deliver improvements to the local environment and community amenities.
Due to the complexity of implementing the flood scheme, the Environment Agency has divided the project into two phases. The sequence of work is carefully planned to minimise disruption and effectively manage flood risk.
Phase one begins at Broadgate and Lower Penwortham (near Liverpool Road) and progresses upstream towards the entrance of Miller and Avenham Parks. Walton-le-Dale will be the focus of the next phase, with details on the construction and timeline expected to be announced in early 2025.
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The flood defences along Broadgate and Riverside will be a combination of raised flood embankments, flood walls, and walls topped with glass panels.
Broadgate
Works to replace the old defences with a new concrete flood wall between Liverpool Road Bridge and Penwortham Old Bridge have been completed.
The new flood wall
The new flood wall
Riverside
Works along Riverside between Penwortham Old Bridge and Miller Gardens Apartments are ongoing. The majority of the new concrete flood wall with glass panels is in place. A floodgate has been installed outside Miller Garden Apartments.
Visualisation of the replacement of the existing wall with a new concrete wall with glass panels
The new flood wall along the boundary of the BAC/EE Preston Social and Sports Association is almost complete. Safety fencing will be manufactured and installed.
In addition, a floodgate will be installed near Ribble Cottage.
Visualisation with flood gate (open), new flood wall and fence along BAC/EE
Miller Park & West Coast Main Line
The existing defences will be replaced with a new flood wall and glass panels along Riverside between Ribble Cottage and the West Coast Mainline Bridge (WCML). Defences will include strengthening of the riverbank and the installation of two flood gates at the entrance to Miller Park.
The flood defences are a combination of raised flood embankments, flood walls, and walls topped with glass panels.
Riverside Road
The old concrete flood walls have been replaced with a new pre-cast concrete flood defence wall and glass panels on top. The new wall runs along Riverside Road from the Cadent Gas Pipe Bridge to Stanley Avenue.
Riverside Road at the Cadent Gas Pipe Bridge before (left) and visualisation of after (right).
Visualisation of flood defence wall with glass panel on Riverside Road, overlooking the river upstream with Miller Gardens on the opposite bank.
Leyland Road
There is some high ground in this area already, so only the entrances to the car parks of Penwortham Methodist Church, the PAGA allotments and Tinkerbells Day Nursery have been raised. A new flood wall has replaced the fence and has been built around the side and rear of the church.
The existing public right of way footpath at Golden Way has been raised to incorporate a flood defence embankment.
Margaret Road Area
The flood defences comprise of both walls and embankments, which stretch from Riverside Road to the railway embankment.
