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.
Phase 1 is expected to be complete by the end of May 2026, with flood defence improvements made along both banks of the River Ribble—Broadgate and Riverside in Preston and along Riverside Road in Lower Penwortham. Works have also been carried out at Penwortham Methodist Church, along Golden Way, and at the rear of St. Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School.
Construction of the new flood defences along Broadgate and Riverside are largely complete, with only a small section near the New Continental remaining. The new defences are mostly pre-cast concrete wall panels with some in-situ concrete walls—these are the sections near the Gas Pipe Bridge where the concrete has been carved and painted to blend into the existing sandstone walls. Additionally, near Penwortham Old Bridge, stonemasons have ‘tied in’ the flood defences with new sandstone.
Broadgate Gardens has also been refurbished as part of the Scheme.
Newly opened Broadgate Gardens
Aerial image of Broadgate Gardens with refurbished viewing platform
Flood wall units along Broadgate
By Penwortham Old Bridge, a concrete Redi-rock revetment has been constructed to help prevent erosion and scouring of the riverbank. The Redi-rock blocks contain recesses, which silt up over time and allow vegetation to grow. Along other sections of the riverbank, rock bags have been installed to also help prevent erosion.
Redi-rock revetment along Broadgate greening up with vegetation, with a small section of rock bags visible to the right
Between the Gas Pipe Bridge and Miller Garden Apartments, the new concrete flood walls have been topped with glass panels to maintain river views. The glass panels are strong enough to withstand the forces of flood water. The outer frames have been powder-coated black to match street furniture and the new floodgates. The glass is ‘self-cleaning’ to reduce the need for maintenance.
Carved concrete flood wall and glass panels on Riverside
Footpaths have been resurfaced to improve public access.
Precast concrete wall flood wall units and glass panels
The boundary wall around the front of Miller Garden Apartments has been replaced with a new floodwall and glass panels. Additionally, a floodgate has been installed.
There is also a new flood wall along the rear boundary of the BAC/EE Social and Sports Association. Safety fencing behind the wall has been installed.
Footpaths in front of Miller Garden Apartments and behind BAC/EE Social & Sports Association will also be improved as part of the Scheme.
Construction is underway on new flood walls, to be topped with glass panels, between Ribble Cottage and the New Continental. Near Ribble Cottage, a floodgate has been installed. Works are due to be completed by the end of May 2026.
The new flood wall extends to the West Coast Main Line and Miller Park’s entrance. Two floodgates at the entrance have also been installed and tested by the Environment Agency.
Newly refurbished entrance to Miller Park
All floodgates will remain open and will only be closed by the Environment Agency if there is a flood warning.
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 been built around the side and rear of the church. The wall has also been topped with railings.
The existing public right of way footpath at Golden Way has been raised to incorporate a flood defence embankment. The footpath off Golden Way into the residential caravan park has also been raised with an embankment.
Additionally, an embankment has been installed under the West Coast Main Line at the rear of St. Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary School.
New flood wall defence around the Penwortham Methodist Church and embankment
The old walls have been replaced with new concrete flood wall units topped with glass panels. The new wall runs from the Gas Pipe Bridge along Riverside Road to Stanley Avenue. The sandstone wall between Penwortham Old Bridge and the Gas Pipe Bridge has been repointed and one section replaced with new sandstone. Short sections of the in-situ concrete walls have been carved and painted to blend into the Gas Pipe Bridge’s old stonework.
Rock armour—large stone boulders—has been installed to protect the riverbank from erosion.
Footpaths have been resurfaced to improve public access.
Concrete wall that has been carved and painted to tie into the existing sandstone of the Gas Pipe Bridge on Riverside Road.
View from Penwortham towards Penwortham Old Bridge
Flood wall units and glass panels, with rock armour along the river
Footpath leading to the rear of Fraser Avenue
The new defences comprise of a flood wall stretching from Stanley Avenue behind Fraser Avenue before tying into a clay embankment at the rear of Margaret Road.
Rear of Margaret Road with tree planting along the riverbank
On the Scheme’s former site compound, a new wetland has been created with native plant species that will attract pollinators and other insects.
Wetland still under construction
New flood embankment with wetland under construction behind it
Planning permission for Phase 1 of Scheme was granted by Lancashire County Council, subject to conditions. You can view the planning applications online:
Information about road closures can be found on Lancashire County Council’s website:
Information on the Preston and South Ribble (PSR) pages has been provided by the Environment Agency and was correct at the time of upload. The Flood Hub is not responsible for any information held on the PSR pages. If you have any queries, please see the Contact section of this page.
