Flood defences take shape in £46m project

The project began after serious floods in 2015 brought about by Storm Eva

Work on a £46m flood defence scheme designed to protect about 1,000 homes has begun to take shape.

Newly-released images have shown the series of defensive walls, channels and storage reservoirs under-construction in Littleborough and Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

The Environment Agency and Rochdale Borough Council project was signed off in 2020 in response to the devastating Boxing Day floods of 2015.

Rochdale Councillor Tricia Aryton said the work will have a "lasting and very real impact on our many residents and businesses in these areas".

The defences have been designed to protect 723 homes and 489 businesses in Rochdale and Littleborough, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Parts of the project included systems to handle polluted water created by construction activity

The towns are vulnerable to flooding from the River Roch due to the steep catchment area in the Irwell Valley

Nick Pearson, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We understand the devastating impact flooding can have, which is why reducing flood risk is our top priority.

"We are pleased with the success of the construction of this scheme to date and that hundreds of homes and businesses are set to benefit from improved protection."