Construction is to begin on a new £5.2m flood defence scheme at Severn Stoke, Worcestershire, reducing flood risk to homes, businesses and infrastructure.

The Environment Agency and Worcestershire County Council have announced that work will start in late April, with construction being delivered by Alun Griffiths Construction. The scheme is expected to be complete by Christmas this year.

The Environment Agency is funding approximately £5m of delivery costs, with Worcestershire County Council contributing a further £250,000.

Severn Stoke has a long history of flooding from the River Severn, with the community severely impacted during recent winters. Eighteen properties, the local church, the local pub and the A38 have all been affected during periods of significant flooding.

The scheme will consist of a flood bank that runs to the west of the village, new drainage works to manage surface water, and a section of raised road to where Ham Lane will pass over the flood bank. Some imported fill material for the flood bank is already on site and further material will be imported in the coming months.

Charlie Chandler, area flood risk manager for the West Midlands at the Environment Agency, said: “Flooding has had devastating impacts on the community of Severn Stoke. While the communities’ resilience of residents at Severn Stoke has kept the village going, it is great to be able to deliver a scheme that will give local residents and businesses confidence and will make a real difference to everyday lives.”

The Environment Agency is currently delivering the government’s flood and coastal risk management (FCRM) investment programme of flood and coastal defences, investing £2.65bn over 2024/5 and 2025/6 to scale up national resilience through building new, and improving existing, flood defences. 

The government will be investing at least a record £10.5bn until 2036 by constructing new flood schemes and repairing existing defences, which is projected to protect more than 890,000 properties across England from the dangers of flooding.