Kimmins Announces Significant Milestone for Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Has Announced That the Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme Has Taken a Significant Step Forward As the Next Stage of Procurement Has Commenced.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Said: “This Is an Important Step Forward for the Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme. Significant Flood Events Have Been Recorded in Portadown over the Last 30-40 Years. This Includes During Autumn 2023 When There Was Widespread Flooding Across the Region After the Wettest October in over 153 Years of Records.

This Is a Vitally Important Scheme with Proposals Being Developed to Reduce the Risk of River Flooding to over 380 Homes and Businesses at 21 Different Sites Across the Portadown Area. It Is Being Designed with an Allowance for Climate Change and Includes the Construction of Approximately Eight Kilometres of Flood Defences at A Total Project Cost Estimate of Approximately £60 Million.

Preparation for the Procurement Process Has Been Moving Forward at Pace and I Am Pleased to Confirm That the Next Stage of the Procurement Process Has Commenced with the Publishing of the ‘Participation Stage'Documents.  This Will Lead to the Identification of a Restricted List of Tenderers Who Will Be Asked to Price the Works.”

The Overall Construction of the Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme' Is Due to Commence in Autumn/ Winter 2026, with an Anticipated Project Duration of Approximately Six Years. The Works Will Be Delivered in Three Phases, Each Spanning Around Two Years.

The Minister Concluded: “Flood Risk Management Remains a Key Priority for My Department, Through Both the development of Flood Alleviation Schemes like Portadown, As Well As Working with Communities Right Across the North to Enhance Our Climate Resilience.”

Further Information on the Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme Can Also Be Found At: Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme | Department for Infrastructure.

Notes to Editors:

1.Significant Flood Events Have Been Recorded During 1986, 1987, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015/16 and 2023. The Frequency and Extent of the Flooding Is Predicted to Increase with the Effects of Climate Change. In October 2011 Out-of-bank Flooding Occurred in the Portadown Area Resulting in the Flooding of Properties and Infrastructure.Further Floods in 2014 and 2015 Caused Damage to Residential Properties and Businesses Across the Wider Portadown Area.

2. The Proposed Scheme Is Being Designed to Protect Against a “1% Annual Exceedance Probability Flood” with an Allowance for Climate Change. This Is a Flood Which Is Calculated to Have a 1% Chance of Occurring in Any Given Year and Is Known As the Design Flood Event.