A £95m flood defence scheme in Derby has been granted planning permission, it has been announced.

Galliford Try's joint venture with Black & Veatch, GBV, is to begin work next month on the 13km Our City Our River scheme.

Features on the project include creating realigned flood defences, using flood walls, raising and lowering of land to create embankments and the creation of a new flood conveyance corridor.

The project is to be delivered in three phases between 2015 and 2022:

• Phase One is located between the Alfreton Road Industrial Estate in the north and Sowter Road in the south, with the exception of works at Darley Abbey Mills Bridge.

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• Phase Two is located at Breadsall, Darley Abbey Mills Bridge, all sites between North Riverside and Meadow Lane, and sites at Derby Junction Railway Bridge, Pride Park, Ambaston and Shardlow.

• Phase Three is located from Chaddesden Sidings & Triangle and Raynesway on the north side of the river, plus Alvaston Park on the south side of the river.

The project aims to protect 2,000 properties against a one in 100 year chance of flooding occuring, while also releasing the potential of brownfield sites along the river frontage.

Deputy council leader, Martin Rawson, said: "The riverside area contains a number of sites with the potential for development but this has not previously been possible due to their location within zones of high flood risk. Planning approval for this scheme marks the start of a new era for Derby with vital flood protection measures and the significant regeneration of key development sites along the riverside."

(LM/CD)