VBA awarded £2m contract by Cumbria County Council to protect Keswick from flooding
VBA, a joint venture between VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin's Atkins business, has been awarded a £2m project by Cumbria County Council with additional funding from the Environment Agency, the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Keswick Flood Action Group, to help protect properties in the Penrith Road and Ambleside area of Keswick from flooding.
The scheme will help to protect over one hundred properties currently at risk of flooding and stop the extent of surface water from disrupting the surrounding highways and local businesses. The project will involve the construction of a flood attenuation storage basin, the installation of a new pumping station to discharge into the River Greta and significant improvement to drainage works.
The Penrith Road area of Keswick comprises one of the greatest areas of surface water flood risk in the county in terms of scale, frequency and impact on the local community.
Work has already begun on the construction of the new pumping station where an underground chamber will also be built once electric cables have been rerouted by Electricity North West.
“Work is now underway to help protect 118 homes and businesses from the devastating impact of flooding. The construction of a new flood storage basin, a new pumping station and significant improvement to drainage works will alleviate much of the pressure the community is under during periods of particularly bad weather.”
Richard Walsh VBA project manager
Alongside the Keswick Flood Alleviation Scheme project, VBA is working with the Environment Agency on a £30 million flood defence scheme in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire which will protect up to 400 homes and businesses from flooding and sustain economic growth. The team is also working with Fylde Council on a £22m coastal protection scheme along the Fylde coast. On completion, the work will provide new coastal defences and upgraded promenades at Fairhaven, Church Scar and Granny’s Bay.
