This scheme on the Fowlea Brook will see a narrow section of
culvert that runs beneath Elenora Street, replaced with one
of much greater capacity.
When completed, it will improve protection from flooding to
180 properties, including the historic Spode site. The scheme
is also being designed to better protect from the future
impacts of climate change.
The scheme is expected to cost £4.2m, made up of £2.1m from
Environment Agency Flood Defence Grant in Aid funding, £1.2m
from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise
Partnership, put in place through partnership working between
the Environment Agency and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and
£635k from the Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.
The rest is coming from other key partners and landowners.
With most of the Environment Agency’s staff currently working
from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,
consultants and contractors are now finalising the plans
remotely from home. It is hoped to start building work in the
autumn, aiming to be complete spring 2021.
With the flood risk in Stoke town centre reduced, it allows
the planned regeneration work, including a commercial
development and student accommodation, to go ahead.
Adam Lines, Staffordshire Area Environment Manager for the
Environment Agency said:
We’re really pleased that this partnership scheme can now
go ahead, reduce the flood risk and open the way for up to
£40m in regeneration works for Stoke.
With respect to our flood risk management capital
programme, 90% of the projects are continuing although with
some productivity impacts, around 10% are stopped. We are
continuing to assess this dynamic situation and ensuring
our priority works, including those affecting recently
flooded communities, can continue.
In regard to our maintenance activities, we are continuing
to maintain and operate all our strategically important
assets across the country. We are also increasing our
maintenance work where resources and safety can be assured.
Cllr , cabinet member for
regeneration, infrastructure and heritage at Stoke-on-Trent
City Council, said:
We have all seen pictures from across the country in recent
years of the sheer devastation flooding can cause.
Thankfully on the whole we haven’t been as badly affected
here as other areas, but that doesn’t mean we should not be
preparing for 1-in-a-100 year, or 1-in-a-1,000 year floods.
This scheme will improve capacity on the Fowlea Brook and
remove the problem for future development.
Register for the Environment Agency’s flood warning service
online or contact Floodline on tel: 0345 988 1188.
If you are already registered, do check that your details are
correct.
Note to editors
Funding for the scheme has been provided by: Trent Regional
Flood and Coastal Committee, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire
Local Enterprise Partnership, Flood Defence Grant in Aid,
Stoke on Trent City Council and Eaglerock (in kind).
