Lancaster's River Lune flood scheme receives £1.4m funding boost from central government

Much of the shared use path has been closed off to allow the work to take place.

Work on the £11m Caton Road, Lancaster Flood Risk Management Scheme, started in January and on completion will protect up to 40 homes and 1,174 local businesses.

The funding boost is part of an extra £170m investment across the country to accelerate work on vital shovel-ready flood and coastal defence projects.

It is being hailed as "an important part of the ambitious green and resilient recovery from the coronavirus pandemic".

The flood wall taking shape along the Millennium Path next to the River Lune.

The Environment Agency’s successful bid into the fund means the scheme can continue its development at pace, to be operational by Spring 2021.

Key features of the scheme will include new flood defence walls and embankments stretching from Skerton Bridge to junction 34 of the M6.

Additional works will take place on the right bank of the river to reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses on Aldrens Lane.

Lancaster flooded extensively on December 5 and 6 2015 from Storm Desmond and again in 2017, 2018, and on February 9 2020 from Storm Ciara.

Dozens of homes, businesses and shops were severely impacted, leaving many with multi-million pound losses.

The project is a partnership between Lancaster City Council and the Environment Agency, who are working with VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and Atkins (VBA Joint Venture Limited).

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, cabinet member with responsibility for sustainable economic prosperity at Lancaster City Council, said: “Securing this additional £1.4m in funding is excellent news and enables enhanced protection of homes, and of businesses to support the local economy.

“I’d like to pay tribute to the huge amount of work that has been undertaken by officers in the city council in partnership with the Environment Agency, construction partners, a number of local businesses, and our communities to deliver this project and improve our flood resilience.”

Andy Brown, Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for Lancashire, added: “The funding secured today is excellent news for our communities in Lancaster who have flooded several times in the past 5 years.

“Our teams have worked hard together to secure funding to deliver robust flood protection from the River Lune and surface water. Securing this funding is an important step to ensure local flood resilience is significantly improved.”