The VBA jv of VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins will shortly start work on behalf of the Environment Agency on two major new flood defence schemes - a £6.5 million scheme in Louth and the £8.1 million Horncastle scheme. Planning permission was granted in April and June respectively.
The schemes will see flood storage reservoirs built outside the towns to help manage flows on the Rivers Lud and Bain when these are high. Both rivers most recently flooded in 2007, affecting 200 properties.
Planning permission for both schemes has been granted, archaeological surveys of the sites are being carried out, and construction will begin shortly.
Both schemes, which are expected to be completed by spring 2016, are being funded and delivered by a partnership of Lincolnshire County Council, the Environment Agency, East Lindsey District Council, and the Lindsey Marsh and Witham Third Internal Drainage Boards.
The ongoing maintenance will be funded by Louth and Horncastle Town Councils. The Environment Agency has led on developing the scheme and construction will be undertaken by their contractors.
Environment Agency Flood and Coastal Risk (FCRM) Manager Deborah Campbell – chair of the project board – said:
“Seeing the Louth and Horncastle flood alleviation schemes built is a huge success for the local communities and all the agencies involved. It is the result of close cooperation and partnership working over a period of years.”
“These flood storage reservoirs will help reduce the risk of river flooding to hundreds of houses and businesses in these towns – something we have seen happen multiple times in the past.”
The £6.5m Louth flood alleviation scheme includes the construction of two reservoirs outside Louth which will reduce the risk of flooding to 355 properties at risk from the River Lud. Planning permission was granted by East Lindsey District Council in April. The north reservoir’s embankment will measure 150m long and the south reservoir will measure 200m.
The £8.1m Horncastle flood alleviation scheme incorporates a reservoir with an 800m long embankment which will reduce flood risk from the River Bain to 170 properties in Horncastle, plus properties in the downstream villages of Haltham and Kirkby-on-Bain. Planning permission was granted by East Lindsey District Council in June.
Both schemes are being completed by VBA; a joint venture comprising of VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins and form part of the Environment Agency’s Water and Environment Management (WEM) Framework.
Steven Hammer, VBA senior project manager said as part of the schemes VBA would be installing ground breaking flow control structures, which have never been installed in the UK before.
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