Balfour Beatty | Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme

Using our expertise in flood defence to protect UK homes

In December 2014, we completed a £21 million flood alleviation project for the Environment Agency and Northumberland County Council.

The town of Morpeth in Northumberland, UK, has a long history of flooding, located in the floodplain of the River Wansbeck. The Morpeth Flood Alleviation Scheme was designed to protect the town from the level of flooding experienced in 2008 when over 1,000 homes and businesses were flooded.

To protect the residents’ properties, we built an upstream storage dam and a new earth embankment to store 1.4 million m³ of flood water. We also constructed flood defence walls throughout the town centre, installed flood gates and raised roads.

“The work at the dam is really impressive. We have exceeded 170,000 hours without a lost time injury – it doesn’t get much better than that, especially when you look at the challenging work being completed. At the dam for example, we are working 8-9 metres in the air, concreting and installing large steel work.”

Anthony Myatt – Project Manager, Environment Agency

Our recent track record in UK coastal protection and flood defence works includes 21 significant projects for local authorities and the Environment Agency, including the £86 million Rossall and Anchorsholme Scheme, the £5 million River Mersey Flood Defence Scheme, the £22 million Humber Flood Prevention Package and the £6 million Lincshore Beach Replenishment five year scheme.

1,000+: properties protected