River park costing £45m is nearing completion

The scheme has faced delays due to flood damage

Work on a £45m river park designed to prevent flooding is due to end this summer.

Salisbury River Park, which was initially meant to cost £35m, has been in progress since the summer of 2022.

The project, jointly funded by the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council, hopes to protect around 350 homes by reshaping a stretch of the River Avon.

Andy Wallis, the Environment Agency's project lead, said "without doubt the biggest challenge" of the scheme has been flooding, which delayed its completion.

"To have a large flood event occur in the middle of a construction project and affect properties next to it is just your worst nightmare," he said.

Andy Wallis from the Environment Agency thanked the public for the patience during the work

Mr Wallis said the agency had carried out a lot of work to "reduce the flood risk in the area, to increase the capacity of the river Avon" but also to create a "space for people to enjoy".

He said the work has included the creation of new channels for the River Avon, a new wetland area, new boardwalks and "crucially" new flood embankments and planting.

"By creating these new channels, in different places, it's able to move the water around in a different way around the city so we can ensure we are keeping the water within these channels, these wetland areas, rather than flowing through people's houses and down people's streets," he added.

Visitors to the site will also be able to use new footpaths, cyclepaths and sporting facilities.

The work has included reshaping a stretch of the River Avon and creating flood embankments

During the work, diggers unearthed the old outdoor swimming pool and a century-old landfill site, and asbestos was also discovered.

"All that we knew about and that we were expecting we planned for, but it does make life a bit of a challenge," he said.

Mr Wallis said it had taken a long time to get to this point.

"I've been involved in the scheme for sort of eight, nine years, to get it to this point - the public has stood behind us and been patient with us, which we really do appreciate," he said.

City councillor Annie Riddle said the project was "massive" and "amazing" for the city.

"We've not ever had anything like this in my 40-odd years of living here," she added.