Flood protection in Salford

Salford uses the River Irwell flood control scheme and a strategic flood risk assessment to protect itself from future flooding.

Stephen McLaren

More than 10,000 of Salford's properties are in a high-risk flood zone.

In the 1990s Salford City Council and the Environment Agency started building the River Irwell flood control scheme. Salford's flood prevention scheme uses open spaces for temporary water storage when levels get too high - showing that hard defences are not the only solution. It includes temporary water storage areas which double as a public park and sports area for the majority of the time when they are not holding floodwater.

The council has also completed the Salford strategic flood risk assessment (SFRA). This has been translated into a set of planning requirements to guide new development.

Read the full CABE case study on the process of how Salford council planned and delivered these flood prevention schemes.

Tags: public space, water, cities and towns