The Environment Agency’s £30 million upgrade of Burton-upon-Trent’s flood defences is complete - the official opening took place on Friday 16 July.

The upgraded flood defences, which will reduce the risk flooding to 4,500 homes and 1,000 businesses in the Burton-upon-Trent community.

Will Groves, senior flood risk adviser for the Environment Agency, said:

“Overall, the improved defences, which total 3.7 kilometres from Branston to Clay Mills, are water tight and were already in action protecting the community from the impacts of Storm Christoph earlier this year.”

The project follows work carried out between 2005 and 2007 - in all, Burton has some 9 kilometres of upgraded defences.

In addition to improving existing defences, the Environment Agency is constructing further defences near Branston Water Park off the A38 after some 18 properties were impacted in the 2020 floods. This work is expected to be completed by next spring 2022.

Galliford Try’s environment business carried out the flood defence construction work.