Last updated: June 2024
The city of Salford has experienced several floods and is at risk of flooding once every 100 years (Ref1). The majority of properties in the city that lie in a high-risk flood zone are in the floodplain of the Irwell. The UK's Environment Agency and the council, designed a flood prevention scheme which included temporary water storage areas which will store floodwater on the existing Castle Irwell playing fields and public open space, and double as sports area otherwise (Ref 5). It aimed to have its own wetland and wildlife habitat, and will help protect hundreds of homes and businesses (Ref 4).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: service sectors
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Project objectives
To build a second flood storage area upstream of Salford, on the site of the old racecourse in Castle Irwell. It aimed to store water from the River Irwell when it would face flood and to prevent it from flowing downstream and flooding properties in Salford. For the majority of time, the flood storage area was made to be a local recreation space (ref 1). A new habitat area with improved footpaths for community use were created in the northern part of the basin (ref 3).
Implementation activities
Salford’s flood basin is operational at Castle Irwell on the site of the old student village, beside the River Irwell (ref 4)
The scheme offers additional flood protection to 1,900 homes and businesses in areas (ref 4)
Has provided a boost to the City Council’s economic development plans to regenerate areas not previously viable, while creating a riverside environment which can be enjoyed by the local community (ref 4)
A new habitat area with improved footpaths for community use were created in the northern part of the basin (ref 3).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The UK Environment Agency and City Council worked closely with the University of Salford to create a flood basin on land near Castle Irwell Student Village (ref 3). Led by the Environment Agency, it was a joint project with Salford City Council, the University of Salford and the local community (ref 4).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The EU Floods Directive (ref 1) )
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Flood Risk Regulations (to implement the requirements of the European Floods Directive) - (ref 1))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The Salford Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (Ref 2))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Increased protection against sea level rise
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
- Attraction of business and investment
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Environment Agency. (2014). Salford flood risk management plan. Policy paper. Gov. UK. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
2. Salford City Council. (2014). Planning: Application Summary. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
3. Everall B. (2017). £12m Salford flood defence gets underway. Salford Online. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
4. The University of Salford. (2017). Salford flood basin project up for two awards. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
5. Green infrastructure NW. (n.d.). River Irwell Flood Control Scheme. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
6. Keeling N. (2014). £12m project planned to protect hundreds of Salford homes from flooding. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
7. Keeling N. (2015). Work starts on £12m flood protection scheme for hundreds of Salford homes. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
8. Environment Agency. (2014). Salford Flood Improvement Scheme: Non-Technical Summary. Connor mcilwrath, Environment Source link at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
9. Mwamba, R. (2020). How this new £10m reservoir stopped Salford from flooding during Storm Ciara. Manchester Evening News. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
2. Salford City Council. (2014). Planning: Application Summary. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
3. Everall B. (2017). £12m Salford flood defence gets underway. Salford Online. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
4. The University of Salford. (2017). Salford flood basin project up for two awards. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
5. Green infrastructure NW. (n.d.). River Irwell Flood Control Scheme. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
6. Keeling N. (2014). £12m project planned to protect hundreds of Salford homes from flooding. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
7. Keeling N. (2015). Work starts on £12m flood protection scheme for hundreds of Salford homes. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 10 July 2020)
8. Environment Agency. (2014). Salford Flood Improvement Scheme: Non-Technical Summary. Connor mcilwrath, Environment Source link at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)
9. Mwamba, R. (2020). How this new £10m reservoir stopped Salford from flooding during Storm Ciara. Manchester Evening News. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 18 July 2020)