Enabling work on a £56 million flood alleviation scheme in Rochdale and Littleborough will get underway in the coming weeks.
The new scheme is led by the Environment Agency in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, Network Rail, the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC), Transport for Greater Manchester, and the Departments for Education and Transport.
It features a range of measures to reduce the risk of flooding to 1,000 residential properties and 200 local businesses across Rochdale and Littleborough.
The first phase of the scheme involves the construction of a storage reservoir at Gale, just off Todmorden Road, and a programme of measures to improve water flow and flood defences along the River Roch and its tributaries. These measures will improve flood protection for 1,000 residential properties and 200 local businesses.
The project, part of the wider £56 million Rochdale and Littleborough flood alleviation scheme, will also protect vital infrastructure, including local transport networks, schools and colleges.
These initial works, scheduled to start early April 2021, will prepare the sites for further construction later this year with a second planning application set to be submitted in the autumn.
Led by the Environment Agency, with support from Rochdale Borough Council, Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, the Rochdale and Littleborough flood alleviation scheme will be one of the largest inland flood management projects in the north of England.
The scheme, which is also supported by the Departments of Education and Transport, is one of a number of flood alleviation measures which have taken place across the borough following the devastating Boxing Day floods of 2015.
The next phase of the project will focus on storage reservoirs and flood defence improvements between Smithy Bridge and Rochdale town centre and the whole project is expected to be completed by late 2025.
The initial enabling works at Gale will require the closure of a single lane of Todmorden Road, between Elim Terrace and Reddyshore Brow from 6 April 2021–30 September 2021.
Some work on the railway line running through the Gale site is also needed and will involve a closure of the railway line during October 2021. These works are being carried out by Network Rail and their contractors and further supports the partnership approach being adopted for the scheme delivery.
Nick Pearson, Flood Risk Advisor with the Environment Agency, said: “This is a step closer to constructing the Rochdale and Littleborough Flood Risk Management scheme which is fantastic news as it will benefit residents, businesses, the local economy and local wildlife. The improved flood defences will play a crucial role in better protecting the wider community from the risk of flooding into the future.
“By delivering these works ahead of constructing the main flood alleviation scheme, we will be able to reduce the risk of unknown issues coming to light and keep any disruption for the local community, to a minimum. All our work will be carried out in line with the Government coronavirus guidelines and activities will continue to be reviewed so that they can be completed safely.”
