Halcrow, with partners Scott Wilson and BRLi, is to play a part in Europe’s largest flood risk management project. The team has been appointed to undertake a key component of the Wrocław flood-prevention system’s modernisation in Poland.

The project will improve the flow capacity of the River Odra through the city of Wroclaw and provide additional flood defence along the river. It forms a key part of Europe’s largest flood risk management project (€500 million).

Roland Grzybek, regional director for Halcrow’s Europe water team, said:

“we identified this project more than three years ago as one of our key prospects in the region. Winning this €8.2 million project will help Halcrow develop its Europe water business in Poland and realise our long-term vision and strategy for both water resources and urban water clients.”

The River Odra flows from the mountains of the Czech Republic through Poland and north to the Baltic Sea. In 1997 flooding caused extensive damage and loss of life, and was the catalyst for a major flood alleviation scheme which was funded by the World Bank, EU grant and local investment.

Halcrow won the contract to design, procure and supervise the construction of the flood relief channel and defences to the city of Wroclaw with a capital value of €177 million. The project will run for six years, covering review of feasibility, outline and detailed design, and construction supervision and supervision of a one-year maintenance period.