Over 3,000 homes and businesses will ultimately benefit from
enhanced protection from tidal flooding, thanks to a £33m
investment by the Department for Infrastructure, Minister has said.
Visiting the recently completed Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation
Scheme today, the Infrastructure Minister said: “Adapting
to climate is one of my Department's seven Foundations for a
Better Future. While we cannot prevent all flooding from
happening, we can reduce the impacts with appropriate
infrastructure investment. The completion of this £33m scheme is
a major boost for over 3000 homes and businesses not only today
but also for future generations as we bolster our defences to
help protect against tidal flooding.”
It is currently estimated that significant tidal flooding would
affect over 2km2 of Belfast City, including local residential
areas, parts of the commercial city centre and major
infrastructure. The recently completed scheme involved the design
and construction of flood defences (typically one metre high)
along approximately 8.5km of the River Lagan from Stranmillis
Weir to Belfast Harbour.
Minister Kimmins added: “Completion of this
project means the City will be better prepared for future
tidal flooding events, safeguarding both people and
infrastructure whilst also promoting long term resilience. We are
already experiencing a change in our weather with increasingly
severe storms and the design of these flood defences takes into
account climate change projections to 2080.
“This work is part of an ongoing programme in flood risk
management. Significant investment is required to provide vital
new infrastructure such as the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation
Scheme but also to upgrade existing flood defences across the
North and address years of historic under-investment in this
area.”
The Minister concluded: “I would also like to commend the
team who have designed the defences to integrate with their
surroundings. This vital work contributes to protecting a
thriving City where people want to live and work, to visit and
invest - both now and in the future.”
Welcoming completion of the Scheme:
Gerard Rice, Director of Service for Lower Ormeau Residents
Action Group (LORAG) said: “LORAG welcome the completion of the
Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme and related mitigations.
These offer the neighbourhood a significant long-term risk
reduction from tidal flooding and these works should greatly
reduce the impact should such a risk be realised for their homes
and businesses. LORAG commend the contractor Charles Brand
for their considerable efforts made during the construction to
reduce the impact that such extensive works had on the
community.”
Peter Gallagher, River Manager Lagan Weir said: “The successful
completion of the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme marks a
transformative milestone for our city. This £33million investment
not only safeguards over 3,000 homes and businesses from the
devastating impacts of tidal flooding but future proofs Belfast
against rising sea levels, with defences designed for many
decades to come. Beyond protection, the scheme's thoughtful
integration with the surrounding landscape ensures the River
Lagan remains a vibrant and welcoming space for communities,
visitors and investors alike. This project is a commitment to
building a resilient thriving city for generations to come.”
Clare Carleton, Resilience Manager, Belfast Emergency
Preparedness Group said: “Civil Contingencies partners in Belfast
work together on an ongoing basis and have responded to protect
Belfast from the risk of coastal flooding a number of times. The
completion of the Belfast Tidal Alleviation Scheme is a
significant step to providing greater protection for the homes
and businesses at risk in our City. Work is now progressing
to raise awareness of this important scheme for our local
communities and to ensure everyone is aware of the steps that
will be taken to implement the defences to protect the City in
the future.”
Met Office Chief Scientist, Professor Stephen Belcher, said: “Our
climate is changing around us, with more intense rainfall and
rising sea levels. Met Office projections show impacts from storm
surges and high waves in coastal areas are expected to worsen as
sea levels continue to rise, increasing the risk of coastal
flooding. We must keep adapting our infrastructure to cope with
future climate and the extremes we can expect to see. The
Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme is an example of timely
climate adaptation, enhancing the resilience of local
communities.”
For more information about this and other Flood Alleviation
Schemes throughout the North please visit: DfI Rivers - Flood Alleviation
Schemes .
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: Minister Kimmins is pictured at the Belfast
Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme with members of the project
delivery team Caoimhe O'Neill and Johnathan Carlisle.
- The scheme design includes an allowance for climate change
projections in accordance with DfI “Technical Flood Risk Guidance
in Relation to Allowances for Climate Change in Northern Ireland”
and a review was undertaken to compare against the predicted
increases in sea level rise outlined within the UK Climate Change
Projections UKCP18) Report during the scheme development
stage.