Bourn Flood Risk Management Scheme

In January 2024 the Environment Agency presented a flood risk management scheme to the community with concept plans for the temporary storage of river water within three parks in Bournville. This would reduce the flow of water in The Bourn at peak times to reduce the risk of flooding to properties in the immediate area and downstream. These preliminary plans were put forward before full modelling was completed and the storage capacity fully understood, raising concerns with the surrounding community. They presented a worst-case scenario, and in hindsight, gave the wrong impression of where we were within the project especially for the start of meaningful engagement with the community. Ground investigation works, which would have supplied evidence for the feasibility, or not, of using the parks for water storage have been postponed, whilst we engage with the community about why a scheme is needed and to discuss options for flood risk management with a focus group. All options remain on the table, including do nothing, but there is a compelling case for the need for a flood risk management scheme in this area, and the initial baseline modelling of flood risk has shown this. We are committed to working in collaboration with the community to find a solution that meets all of our objectives. 

We have produced an Engagement Plan which provides the aims and objectives for the next stage of engagement. 

The first Focus Group meeting is taking place on 4 October 2024 with representatives from stakeholder organisations, community and park groups to discuss the Flood Risk in the Bournville and Stirchley area. A second Focus Group meeting is planned for November to discuss flood risk management options.  

If you represent a community group who are impacted by flooding or a potential scheme and wish to send a representative to the focus group meetings, please contact us at TheBournFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk to apply. Please be aware we have a limited number of places available within the Focus Group and cannot offer a place to individual member of the community. Following the initial Focus Group meetings, we plan to hold a community drop-in event before the end of December 2024. We will also update the community via emailed newsletters. Please see below how to sign up for our newsletters. 

We know the devastating impact that flooding can have to people and communities. 

With anticipated climate change impacts and a rising urban population, we are likely to see an increase in both the likelihood and impact of flooding in the future which is why we are exploring options to help better protect communities at risk of flooding in the Bournville and Stirchley areas of Birmingham. 

We are equally committed to working with those who live and work within these communities, whether personally at risk of flooding or where there is potential to be impacted by possible future options to reduce flood risk to others. We have heard and understood the concerns of some residents and groups in relation to the Bourn Flood Risk Management Scheme. We are at a very early stage in this process and, while options are being explored, no decisions have been made. We want to ensure that any future decisions are properly informed by the community and as such we have paused all ground investigations within the parks, which were due to commence at Weoley Park on the 23 May. 

We remain fully committed to ongoing meaningful engagement with all those who could be affected by any potential scheme and we hope this helps to allay some of the concerns of the community. We will publish an options appraisal report as well as an engagement plan in the coming months clearly highlighting where we are within the project and what the options look like going forward. We will work with the community to decide on the best way forward together. 

This is a completed flood scheme near Harborne Lane. It is an offline flood storage area with a path which acts as a national cycle route and acts as the exit spillway.  

The scheme reduces the flood risk to 130 residential properties and businesses in the area. The scheme involved; 

• Conversion of the decommissioned Harborne Reservoir situated along the Bournbrook Walkway west of Harborne Lane into an embanked area to store water during storm events 

• New flood relief channel through the Pebble Mill area and 227 metre long bypass culvert under the Pershore Road, discharging in to the River Rea, to take flood flows during storm events 

• Alterations to the river channel to improve flow and environmental diversity 

• Re-alignment and re-surfacing of previous access routes 

Selly Park North: The area to the right of the photo stores flood waters and when not in operation it is a wetland area. 

This is a completed offline flood storage area which reduces the flood risk to 220 residential properties and businesses in the Selly Park south area.  

The scheme involved; 

• Construction of an embankment and flood defence wall to prevent water overtopping the left bank upstream of Dogpool Lane Bridge; 

• Creation of an embanked area to store water during storm events in the green open space on the right bank upstream of Dogpool Lane Bridge; 

• New flood defence walls on the left and right banks downstream of Dogpool Lane Bridge; 

• Alterations to the river channel to improve flow and environmental diversity; and 

• Improvements to existing access routes, including the cycle path and Ashbrook Road access drive. 

Selly Park South: A Google Earth image of the embankment around the park with the storage area in the middle.

The scheme was completed in August 2024 and reduces the flood risk to circa 70 residential properties and businesses in the area.  

The scheme involved; 

Removal of silt and four weirs in partnership with Birmingham City Council. 

Construction of an embankment within Pebble Mill playing fields to direct flood water back into the River Rea and re-alignment and re-surfacing of public footpaths. 

Improved planting and landscaping to encourage local habitat diversity and increase biodiversity. 

Partial landscaping has already taken place and additional tree planting and meadow creation will be undertaken in Autumn 2024.  

Aerial view of the Pebble Mill playing Fields on completion of the flood storage area in August 2024.

Meadow plants have germinated and growing within the flood storage area in September 2024.

Awards and Commendations 

In September 2024 the Environment Agency’s contractors Jackson Civil Engineering got awarded highly commended in Environmental Excellence 2024 category, by Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) for First Avenue scheme.  

The site pioneered a combination of solar power and hydrogen fuel cells (UNSDG 7) which was estimated to save over 50 tCO2e as well as reducing noise, odour, risk of accidental spills and fire hazards. Actions such as these made the scheme a Considerate Constructor Scheme champion, by demonstrating principles of respect for the community, care for the environment and value for the workforce. 

The team went beyond Environment Agency’s targets, demonstrating 238% habitat and 44% rivers BNG. Furthermore, the site team connected with a nearby women’s centre, helping to fund essentials, including toiletries, baby food and hygiene product (UNSDGs 1 and 10), evidencing the project’s commitment to social betterment.  

In September 2024 Arup, Birmingham City Council, and the EA won the Institution of Civil Engineers  (ICE)  West Midlands Sustainability Award for the First Avenue project.