Green Gown Awards 2016 – Community – University of Salford - Winner

Castle Irwell Flood Basin Project – keeping Salford dry

Floods from the River Irwell periodically devastate the lives of the families and businesses in the Lower Broughton and Kersall areas of Salford most recently on Boxing Day 2015.

The project brings together the University, local communities, the local authority and the Environment Agency (EA) in an innovative partnership to create a flood protection scheme designed to safeguard over 1400 homes and 500 businesses, provide a high quality 5.5ha wetland wildlife habitat and improve sports facilities for local and student groups.

Scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2016, the scheme creates a 15 ha basin capable of holding 580,600m3 of flood water and reducing the risk of flooding from 1 in 75 to 1 in 100 years.

Top 3 learnings

1 Understanding the drivers, protocols and processes of the various partners

2 Agreeing the allocation of resource inputs especially funding at the outset

3 Maintaining excellent communication across all stakeholders throughout the life of the project.

Videos

• Castle Irwell Flood Basin Project – keeping Salford dry (click to hide)