Bourn and Lower Rea Flood Risk Management Scheme

Updates to FAQ document in July 2023

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Bourn and Lower Rea Flood Risk Management Scheme (FRMS) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why are you doing the scheme?

Since the flooding in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2018 impacted several communities throughout the catchment. We are looking at developing a scheme in the area since The River Rea and its main tributaries (The Bourn and Bourn Brook), are heavily urbanised watercourses situated to the south of Birmingham City. The canalised, brick lined channels from Cannon Hill Park to the South of Digbeth pose a high-risk during flooding events as the flood waters have nowhere to go. Therefore, the construction of flood storage areas along the River Rea will provide an alternative area for the flood waters to gather in order to prevent such high river levels at times of heavy rain fall and reduced the risk of flooding in the urban areas.  

2. What are the key activities in the coming months?

We are at the outline design stage of the project. The key upcoming activities are:

Developing the design, including surveys and ground investigation, and reviewing landscape and environmental requirements.

Public engagement at final design stage and pre-construction phase.

Ongoing engagement with key stakeholders.

3. Will there be more engagement with the community as the scheme progresses?

We want to work closely with the community and key stakeholders and are keen to engage with you throughout the project. We will share more detailed information about the scheme at the following key stages. 

Once design and landscaping options have been further developed. 

Prior to submission of the planning application.

Prior to starting construction on site.

There are limitations to the extent of how much we can adapt the scheme based on feedback we receive.

4. Will my house be protected against flooding?

At this stage in the design process, we predict that the scheme, when complete, will reduce flood risk to approximately 270 residential and 365 commercial properties.

The FRMS will be designed to provide a 1 in 100 year Standard of Protection (SoP) (equivalent to a 1% chance of flooding at any given year), with an additional allowance for climate change.

5. Is the design finalised? Some areas don’t appear to be protected.

The design is not finalised yet and the scheme aims to reduce flood risk to areas that remain at risk in The Bourn and River Rea catchments by constructing three storage areas on the Bourn (a tributary of the Rea), Manor Farm and one at Calthorpe Park. Around 270 existing residential and 360 commercial properties across the River Rea and Bourn catchments would benefit from the scheme. This scheme offers a once in a generation opportunity to facilitate meaningful environmental change in the heart of Birmingham. It would unlock a 15-hectare area that has been identified by the city council for redevelopment into a new mixed -use residential community of up to 10,000 homes. The scheme will be designed so as not to increase flood risk elsewhere.

6. Does the scheme consider climate change?

We always consider climate change when designing and implementing a scheme. We follow Environment Agency guidance and add allowances for climate change.

7. Does the scheme consider surface water issues and other types of flooding?

The scheme aims to reduce fluvial (river) flooding from the from the River Rea and its tributaries.  

8. I live in an area where I am not protected by the defences. Will my flood risk increase? 

We undertake flood modelling to ensure that the scheme does not increase flood risk elsewhere. Where we have identified a change in flood risk, we have already engaged with the property owner to explain the risk and offer additional measures to protect their property.

9. Will we be kept informed about the scheme?

We will keep people informed and engaged throughout the length of the scheme. We will do this through regular newsletters and our online information page, which can be accessed at the following link TheBournFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk.

If you would like to receive our newsletter, please email your contact details to TheBournFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk or call our National Customer Contact Centre on 03708 506 506 during office hours and we will add you to our mailing list.

PLEASE NOTE- By providing us with your contact details you consent to the Environment Agency using the details provided to contact you with updates about the Bourn and Lower Rea Flood Risk Management Scheme. We will keep your contact details until the project is closed or until you withdraw your consent, whichever is sooner.

You can withdraw your consent to receive these updates at any time by emailing us at TheBournFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk or calling 03708 506 506. We will not share your details with any other third party without your explicit consent unless we are required to by law.

The Environment Agency is the data controller for the personal data you provide. For further information on how we deal with your personal data please see our Personal Information Charter on GOV.UK (search 'Environment Agency personal information charter') or contact our Data Protection team.  Address: Data Protection team, Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH. Email: dataprotection@environment-agency.gov.uk   

11. Will there be disruption to me during the construction works?

As we have not finalised the design for the scheme, we cannot provide any information about disruption to individuals. However, any scheme is likely to provide some level of disruption, such as noise, road closures and construction traffic. We will keep the community informed whilst developing the scheme to ensure people are made aware of any disruptions in advance and are able to talk to us about their concerns. We always work with contractors who are ‘considerate neighbours.'  The construction phase of this scheme is likely to be started for a few years.

12. How are you going to access the construction area?

When the construction phase does begin we will minimise the disruption to local residents and always consider health and safety when looking at access routes, such as putting adequate traffic management systems in place. As part of our design process, we will look at access arrangements to all areas of the scheme and make sure that all individuals who are directly affected are consulted.

13. When working on sections of the scheme, will there be foot path closures, and will there be alternative routes available? 

As we have not finalised the design for the scheme, we cannot provide any information about closure to individuals. Once we have these full details, we will keep the community informed whilst developing the scheme to ensure people are made aware of any disruptions in advance and are able to talk to us about their concerns.

14. Can I approach your staff directly on site to discuss the proposed scheme?

To help keep everyone safe during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic we ask that you avoid/minimise your contact with our site staff and contractors as much as possible.

If you have concerns or queries relating to the scheme, please do not approach our staff and contractors on site. We ask instead that you contact us via email onTheBournFRMS@environment-agency.gov.uk or by telephone during office hours on 03708 506 506.

15. Have you considered dredging to alleviate flood risk?

As part of our Initial Assessment, we considered several options to alleviate flood risk to Bourn and Lower Rea dredging was discussed but is neither an effective nor affordable long-term solution to the issues of flooding in the town.

In extreme flooding events, the small increases in width and depth achieved by dredging a waterway do not provide enough capacity to contain the excess flood water.

Dredging may also be ineffective in reducing flooding, as the natural processes in many rivers can cause silt to build up again quickly. As a result, it is not affordable to continuously dredge the length of the watercourse.

The Environment Agency also has a duty to protect valuable river habitats, and dredging has been proven to cause considerable damage to river ecosystems.   

16. Do you undertake maintenance of the watercourses?

The responsibility of maintaining a watercourse sits with the riparian landowner. However, we will intervene if there is an increased flood risk to residential properties from a structure or channel, such as a blockage. We will inform the riparian landowner to rectify the defect or carry out the removal ourselves where there is a heightened risk of flooding. For further information on riparian rights and responsibilities, please refer to our 'owning a watercourse' guidance on GOV.UK at the following link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/owning-a-watercourse

You can contact our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 to report a flood or possible cause of flooding.

17. Will the Flood Risk Management Scheme damage the environment?

The Environment Agency has a biodiversity net gain approach to the development of the scheme. This is to ensure any biodiversity loss because of the scheme is mitigated within the river catchment.

Whilst we will make every effort to limit the loss of trees in the final design of the scheme, it is inevitable that we will need to remove some trees and vegetation to complete the work. Where removing trees cannot be avoided, we will plant replacements. For every tree lost because of our work, we will plant five more. We will also be working with residents and other groups to identify suitable planting in the local area, and if necessary, opportunities in the wider Birmingham area.

18. Is Natural Flood Risk Management (NFM) being considered as part of the solution to alleviate flooding?

Working with natural processes and using NFM measures where appropriate will help us manage and reduce flood risk in an efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable way.

19. Is there enough funding to complete the scheme?

Any flood scheme is subject to government funding rules based on achieving a positive cost benefit ratio, and all schemes will have to go through a series of stages to gain approval for funding. At each stage the scheme will be subject to scrutiny in order to ensure that the scheme offers value to the taxpayer.

We have secured funding to progress with the design of the scheme. As with any government funded scheme, we must continue to ensure that the cost does not outweigh the benefits and there is a constant review of this element of the project.

20. When will construction start and when will the scheme be finished?

Construction is due Mid-Late 2026 and is expected to last between 18 to 24 months. This is dependent on funding, approvals, and any unforeseen engineering challenges on site.