£38m contract heralds next phase of flood defence works

The next phase of major works to help protect Derby from flooding is set to get underway following the awarding of a £38 million contract by Derby City Council.

The Our City Our River (OCOR) programme is one of Derby’s biggest infrastructure projects.

The city council has now awarded the contract for the next phase to John Sisk & Son (Sisk) .

This package of works, known as Derby Riverside, will provide significant flood resilience protection to many properties along the east bank of the River Derwent, from Causey Bridge to Derwent Bridge.

The newly appointed contractors will be responsible for delivering a new flood wall and floodgates that will offer enhanced protection for Exeter House and properties in Meadow Road and Meadow Lane.

Sisk will also carry out demolition of the riverside office blocks in Stuart Street to create a new riverside green area.

This will provide more space for flood water to pass through the city in a controlled corridor.

Enabling works will begin shortly, with demolition and construction work due to start this month.

This will involve the removal a number of trees along the route, not only to enable defences to be built, but because the riverside park area will only work effectively as a flood conveyance corridor by limiting obstructions.

Councillor Carmel Swan, the city council’s cabinet member for climate change, transport and sustainability, said: “I’m delighted that the contract is now signed with John Sisk and Sons to deliver the vital second phase of the Our City, Our River flood defence project.

“These works are crucial as we continue to future proof the city against extreme weather and unlock the potential for regeneration along the river.

“We can now look forward to seeing work begin on site in the near future.”

The Our City, Our River programme is one of the Environment Agency’s largest local authority-led projects and has already delivered enhanced flood protection to more than 2,000 properties.

Derby Riverside will extend this protection to the east bank of the Derwent and unlock the potential for regeneration in this part of the city.

David Turnbull, area flood and coastal risk manager (Derbyshire and Leicestershire) at the Environment Agency, said: “This contract award marks another step forward in delivering the Our City Our River programme and making Derby more resilient to the threat of climate change.

“The Environment Agency are proud to be in partnership with Derby City Council for this journey, and we are delighted to see this complex but vital phase of the programme begin very soon.”