Bewdley Severnside South Flood Alleviation Scheme

Bewdley is a Worcestershire market town, strategically placed as a crossing point on the River Severn. The attractive town core consists of Georgian and earlier buildings in mellow brick and local sandstone. Historically, it evolved during the 15th century as an important inland port on the river, and evidence of the town’s original function is still apparent along Severnside, the historic quay, being an asset in attracting visitors to the town.

The town has historically suffered from fluvial flooding and initial consultations during the 1990’s for a flood defence scheme were discontinued initially on the grounds of a significant negative impact. Flood events in 1999 and extensive flooding of 175 properties in the winter of 2000 acted to focus minds. With the political will to accelerate a scheme, design work for flood defences began by the summer of 2000. Public and stakeholder engagement by the Environment Agency with residents, businesses, local authority and key stakeholders led to the introduction of the design of a new form of demountable flood defence.

The design process was divided into two phases:

Phase 1 covered a section upstream of the main Bewdley Bridge crossing; and
Phase 2 covered the quayside and car park downstream of the Bridge.
The latter is rich in built cultural heritage, being part of the Bewdley Town Centre Conservation Area, comprising listed buildings and the Bridge, a 300m length of riverbank being retained by a sandstone block listed Grade II quay wall and other amenity assets. Structural investigation showed that the wall structure was weak in places, at risk of collapse if the proposed works were undertaken. Significant strengthening work entailed constructing support beneath and behind the wall, taking down and rebuilding the stone face as work proceeded. The flood defence works required extensive below-ground works, pile drilling, grouting and excavation. Significant archaeological studies and intrusive investigation was required since the working area was thought to contain medieval stonework, timbers and relics from much earlier bridge abutments. Remains of a medieval chapel were discovered, recorded and preserved under the line of the new flood defence.

The Environment Agency and team worked very closely with English Heritage, Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council Planning, Conservation and Highways teams, the Bewdley Civic Society and Town Council, in addition to local residents and businesses and the local Flood Forum Group. The level of collaboration was such that a statutory Environmental Statement was produced by the Agency and published by early summer 2000. The project required extensive multi-disciplinary working between Client, Consultant and Contractor.

Importantly, the scheme was seen by the Environment Agency Landscape Architects as a real opportunity for the restoration and enhancement of the town’s quayside amenity as an integral part of the project development and delivery, working in partnership with the organisations listed and with the Regional Development Agency (RDA).

So whilst the key objective was to provide Severnside South with a flood defence for a 1 in 100 year level of protection, discussions progressed and a scheme was developed to remodel the local environment to enhance and restore it within the confines of the historic environment, and within the engineering and environmental constraints of constructing the flood defence. The project scope was developed to assist in the conservation and enhancement of Bewdley’s heritage, to encourage more people to be involved in its heritage, and ensure that they can learn about and enjoy the quayside area. Developing these additional aims was not straightforward, as there were the normal time and financial constraints. This work also did not form part of the core business in developing flood defences. However, it is covered under the Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation issued under Section 4 of the 1995 Environment Act. The primary Act formed the Environment Agency with powers to protect the natural environment and the Act provides legislation in relation to all facets of the environment.

The design was innovative due to the fact that it was the first flood alleviation project in the UK to utilise demountable defences. In addition it significantly rationalised the entire length of the quayside area, improving access to a refurbished promenade where pedestrians were given increased priority and recognition within a public realm shared with vehicles. The design maintained and enhanced the character and setting of the fine Georgian buildings; introduced a new Civic Space incorporating a two-tier terraced quay with ramped access and extended walkways where access was previously either impossible or unsafe. The consenting process was augmented by the use of a three-dimensional scale model. It assisted local users and decision makers to visualise proposals in terms of scale, surfaces, and changes in level, access and spatial quality. The model is now exhibited at the Town Museum as part of an ongoing exhibition on the history of flooding in the town.