Mott MacDonald is designing a £15 million flood protection scheme in Stonehaven, UK on behalf of Aberdeenshire Council.
The project will provide the town with one in 200 year flooding protection from the River Carron.
Stonehaven has a long history of flooding, with the most recent event occurring in December 2012. The flood risk to the town is likely to intensify as climate change impacts on weather patterns and increases the amount of rainfall that runs off the land into the river.
Mott MacDonald is designing flood walls and embankments using 2D hydraulic modelling which helps to verify flood levels. The consultancy is also undertaking ground investigations and environmental surveys. Building information modelling is also being used to allow a collaborative approach for all parties involved on the project.
Stephen Knight, Mott MacDonald’s project director, said:
“We have been improving the efficiency of the initial concept design by reducing piling requirements, overall material volumes and simplifying construction requirements.”
“Working with statutory bodies, we are aiming to minimise the impact on the watercourse during construction by maintaining part of the existing river channel where possible.”
The Stonehaven flood protection scheme is due to be completed by the end of 2018.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
ERG, the leading supplier of odour control systems and industrial gas cleaning & thermal systems, has been awarded the coveted King’s Award for Enterprise.
Welsh Water’s new artificial intelligence-driven tool, ORAI, has been shortlisted for three categories at the prestigious British Data Awards 2026 – underscoring the company’s commitment to using cutting-edge technology to deliver better outcome for customers.
Barhale has completed work on two separate Rapid Action Taskforce Spills projects it is carrying out for Severn Trent.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.