A long-anticipated flood defence project for Bradford-on-Avon has been declared financially unviable due to a sharp increase in estimated costs. The Environment Agency (EA), together with Wiltshire Council, Bradford-on-Avon Town Council, and Wessex Water, revealed that the projected permanent flood scheme is currently beyond reach.
The original 2017 plan envisioned low flood walls and pumping stations at an estimated cost of £4.5 million. However, a recent review indicates expenses have soared to over £11 million, a figure that cannot be met with existing government funding.
Although alternative, less costly options—including temporary pumping systems—were explored, they would still require roughly £1.7 million in additional funding, which remains unavailable. Partners have been unable to identify viable sources to close this budget gap.
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Preserving Bradford-on-Avon’s historic charm remains a top priority, complicating the design of any flood scheme. Even the original plan would have been overwhelmed by the flooding witnessed during Storm Bert in November 2024. Consequently, the partners agreed that proceeding with a permanent flood defence at this time would neither be cost-effective nor protective enough to justify potential impacts on the town’s heritage and economy.
Several other flood management strategies were assessed, such as dredging, upstream storage, automated barriers, bypass channels, natural flood management, and temporary barriers. Unfortunately, each was found to be either impractical, ineffective, or equally unaffordable.
Moving forward, the Environment Agency and local councils intend to prioritize community flood resilience initiatives. Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures may become available to homeowners at risk.
Ron Curtis, Operations Manager at the Environment Agency, acknowledged the community’s disappointment but reaffirmed commitment to supporting adaptive measures: “While a permanent scheme isn’t feasible now, shifts in policy, funding, or technology could open doors in the future. Meanwhile, residents should stay informed, heed flood warnings, and prepare accordingly.”
A flood drop-in event is scheduled for Monday, July 21, at Holy Trinity Church from 2 to 6:30 pm. National flood expert Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, known as “Flood Mary,” will be present with the Flood Pod to engage with locals, answer questions, and discuss flood resilience strategies.