The Environment Agency, in partnership with Wiltshire Council, Bradford-on-Avon Town Council and Wessex Water, has concluded that a permanent flood scheme for Bradford-on-Avon is currently unviable. 

A review of a proposed flood scheme from 2017, which involved low walls and pumping stations, found that costs have risen significantly, increasing from £4.5 million to over £11 million. This is not possible with the current central government funding available. 

Efforts to find more cost-effective alternatives—such as replacing permanent surface water pumping with temporary pumps—would still require around £1.7 million in additional partnership funding.

After discussions with partners, no funding opportunities have been identified to bridge this gap. 

Bradford-on-Avon’s historic character is vital to its tourism and local economy, adding further complexity to designing a flood scheme that balances protection with preservation.

While the proposed 2017 scheme was designed to be more in keeping with the town’s character, it would still have been overtopped by flooding during Storm Bert in November 2024. 

Weighing up these considerations, partners have agreed that a permanent flood scheme is financially unviable at this time.

Even if a scheme were possible, the flood risk benefits would not outweigh the potential harm to the town’s historic and economic importance. 

A range of alternative flood management options—including dredging, upstream and underground flood storage, automated barriers, a bypass channel, natural flood management and temporary barriers—have been explored, but each was found to be either ineffective, impractical or also financially unviable. 

Moving forward, the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council, and the Town Council will focus resources on strengthening community-level flood resilience. Residential properties may be eligible for Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures. 

Committed to supporting community

Ron Curtis, Operations Manager from the Environment Agency, said: 

We understand this will be disappointing news for those affected by recent flooding, and we recognise the ongoing challenges faced by the community.  

We remain committed to supporting Bradford-on-Avon in adapting to flood risks through community resilience measures.  

This does not mean that a permanent scheme will never be possible, as changes in government policy, funding availability or advancements in technology could create future opportunities. 

We continue to ask residents and businesses to check their flood risk.

The Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council, Bradford-on-Avon Town Council and Wessex Water are hosting a flood drop-in session on Monday 21 July at Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LW from 2 – 6:30pm.  

With national expert “Flood Mary” Mary Long-Dhonau OBE in attendance with the Flood Pod, this event will allow the community to ask questions, discuss concerns, and learn more about flood resilience measures and ongoing efforts to manage flood risk in the area. 

Councillor Jack Vittles, Mayor of Bradford on Avon, said: 

We’re pleased to be able to facilitate this valuable opportunity for the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Wessex Water to come and update residents on their work regarding flooding in the town.

These agencies will explain their plans, share their flood resilience support and highlight the opportunities to enable the town to prepare for future flooding events.  This is the perfect chance for residents and businesses to drop in, ask questions, discuss concerns directly with them and pick up advice on making your property as resilient as possible. 

I’d like to thank all the agencies involved for engaging so positively with our community and look forward to hearing what they can do for Bradford on Avon and our residents. 

Background

More information on the Bradford on Avon drop-in session on July 21 is available on the Bradford on Avon Council site here.