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May 2006

Halcrow provides support for Scotland’s largest flood prevention scheme

White Cart flood prevention scheme

Halcrow has been given the green light to proceed to the detailed design and procurement stage on a £50 million flood prevention scheme for the White Cart River in Glasgow.

Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin has provided backing for the Glasgow south-side project which is the largest of its kind in Scotland. Halcrow has been involved from the initial stages providing support to Glasgow City Council on the scheme. It will reduce the risk of flooding to approximately 1,750 homes and businesses in the area and allow a range of environmental improvements to be undertaken along the White Cart Water corridor.

Halcrow’s project manager, Douglas Luke said: “The confirmation of such an ambitious project is a significant milestone in removing the threat of flooding to properties in the south side of Glasgow, and gives comfort to local residents and businesses who will be reassured the predicted risk of flooding will be reduced to less than 0.5%.”

“Halcrow has been involved in the development of this scheme since 2002 and we are delighted to be associated with such an innovative, environmentally sustainable project that will provide major long term benefits to the residents and business in the south of Glasgow.”

For over a century the White Cart Water has inflicted serious flooding on homes and other properties on the south side of Glasgow, with over 20 serious floods in the last century including one recent occasion when over 500 homes were inundated. The shallow, fast flowing river at White Cart is so prone to flash flooding. Just 12 hours of rain can raise water levels by six metres.

Halcrow’s sustainable solution to the flooding risk includes the construction of three upstream storage areas to hold the bulk of flood water for controlled release once a storm event has passed, and the creation of low riverside defences in the form of walls and embankments along the urban corridor.

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