Exeter Flood Defence scheme to begin
The first phase of the Exeter Flood Defence Scheme is due to start this summer as part of a £36bn programme of infrastructure developments across the UK.
The scheme which will cost around £30m is expected to bring an estimated £200m of direct economic benefit to Exeter.
Exeter City Council and Devon County Council are each contributing £3 million to the scheme with the remainder is being funded by flood defence grant in aid.
The city’s current flood defences were built in the 1960s and 70s after devastating flooding affected more than 1,000 properties and while Exeter was largely spared in the severe winter weather earlier this year recent studies indicate the defences are in need of replacement.
The studies carried out by the Environment Agency indicate that areas of the city would be vulnerable in a more extreme flood situation.
The Exeter flood defence scheme will take place in two phases with phase one, which will help to reduce flood risk to some of the most vulnerable areas of the city, due to start this summer.
The main scheme (phase 2) will include work to some of the existing flood defence structures and increase the flow capacity of Trews Weir flood relief channel but the full scope of this phase is yet to be decided following a public consultation this summer.
Construction of the main works is expected to begin in 2015, and the aim is to complete the scheme by late 2017.
The scheme, which was formally announced last month, comes as the Government confirm that over 200 major infrastructure projects are to begin work this year.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Ensuring Britain has first class infrastructure is a crucial part of our long term economic plan: supporting business, creating jobs and providing a better future for hardworking people.
“As a crucial part of our long-term economic plan, this government is backing business with better infrastructure so that more jobs and opportunities are created for hardworking people, meaning more financial security and peace of mind for families.”
Other infrastructure projects to break ground this year include improvement work to Drumbridges Roundabout on the A38 near Newton Abbot as well as extensive improvement work to the M5.
A significant grant has also been earmarked to improve Devon County Council’s Waste management service.
Jeremy Blackburn, Head of UK Policy for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) welcomed the news but called for better regional planning in infrastructure development .
He said: “RICS have long said ‘small is beautiful’ and the repair, maintenance and upgrade of existing infrastructure – these smaller projects – can be a driver for growth.
“This has benefits not only for local and regional construction businesses, but also for underpinning wider business and economic growth.
“The range of projects in today’s announcement shows that the Government still need to grasp the nettle of prioritisation though. The focus must now be on developing business cases which reflect wider benefits for growth, and prioritise accordingly, not just a Top 40 wishlist.
“Projects should be given the go-ahead based on their economic potential, not merely because they appear next in the infrastructure investment pipeline. By strategically choosing schemes with greater potential to fuel regional growth, the benefits would be felt more immediately and regional recovery stimulated faster.”
