09 Oct, 2023 By Belinda Smart
Work has begun on a new £26M flood storage reservoir near the village of Lowdham in Nottinghamshire.
Lowdham has a history of flooding from the nearby Cocker Beck, a tributary of the River Trent, with major flooding incidents occurring in 2020, 2019, 2013, 2012, 2007 and 1999. The new flood storage reservoir will hold 100,000m3 of water in times of flooding and is designed to protect 191 homes, as well as local businesses. The scheme follows the earlier building of a reservoir in 2000 at the recreation ground in Lowdham, which has proven insufficient in protecting the area from larger scale flooding in recent years.
The new scheme is being delivered by the Environment Agency, in partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council and Nottingham County Council. According to details on the Environment Agency website, due to the scale and position of the proposed reservoir, the constructed scheme will be classified as a Category A Reservoir under the Reservoirs Act, 1975 and will be operated by Environment Agency.
The flood storage system is being constructed by main contractor Jackson Civil Engineering upstream of Lowdham, holding water back from inundating the village during flood events from Cocker Beck.
The works involve cutting into an embankment of the Cocker Beck and using compacted soil and ultra-low carbon concrete to create a raised reservoir. It is understood clay to construct the earth embankments for the reservoir will mostly be excavated from the site to keep cost and carbon emissions to a minimum during construction, as well as reducing the need for vehicular movements. Excess soil excavated to create the storage area will be used during the final landscaping of the site.
The project will also entail tree planting on the site as well as the creation of three hectares of new woodland nearby. The Environment Agency is also working in partnership with Nottingham County Council to remove aggressive non-native plant species including Himalayan Balsam and Knotweed
A ground-breaking ceremony for the project took place on 6 October, attended by Environment Agency officials, MPs, councillors and members of the local flood action group.
Environment Agency area flood and coastal risk manager Paul Lockhart said: “We are delighted that we are now in the position of being able to commence the construction of a major flood alleviation Scheme to protect the people of Lowdham.
“The reservoir we are building will provide a very high level of protection against flooding to 191 properties, and it represents excellent value for money for the taxpayer.
“We would not have been able to achieve this without the long-term support of the MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick MP, our local authority partners – Nottinghamshire County Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council – the members of the Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, and, most importantly, the local community Flood Action Group (Flag) and the Parish Council, who have been very supportive throughout the process.”
Sherwood MP and minister for food, farming and fisheries Mark Spencer said: “As a serving Defra Minister and local MP, I am acutely aware of the distress and cost that flooding causes to our communities.
“This £26M reservoir scheme will provide a very significant level of protection from flooding to the community and will, I’m sure, give confidence to the people of Lowdham so they will be able to carry on with their lives without the constant worry of future flooding.”
MP for Newark and Bingham Robert Jenrick said: “As the member of parliament for Lowdham, I know how destructive and distressing flood damage has been on residents and business owners. The otherwise excellent quality of life in Lowdham has been blighted for many by repeated floods and the fear of them. Therefore, I was delighted that the flood alleviation scheme is now fully funded and work can start imminently.
“I am grateful to the Environment Agency, the Parish Council, the Flood Action Group and local authorities for not giving up on the residents of Lowdham, the impact this scheme will have on them will be immense! This has not been an easy project to bring to fruition but we got there!”
Nottinghamshire County councillor Mike Adams said: “Nottinghamshire County Council has a long track record of supporting residents affected by flooding and we’re delighted to be investing £500,000 into this scheme, which once complete will protect 191 homes.”
Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee chair Vij Randeniya said: “The Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee is committed to reducing flood risk, particularly for those communities that are frequently flooded, of which Lowdham is one.
“The Committee has provided over £3M of Local Levy Funding to enable this project to progress.
“I am delighted that, with the financial help and support of our partners Nottinghamshire County Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council, we are now able to commence delivery of this scheme to provide better protection to 191 residential and commercial properties in Lowdham.”
Newark and Sherwood District councillor Paul Taylor said: “This scheme is a priority for us, and I’m pleased to see further funding contributed for the residents of Lowdham. As we sadly know, floods can be detrimental to residents, whether it be damage to their homes and their businesses, or in serious cases their safety.”
The scheme is expected to be completed in spring 2026.
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