Work is underway on a £6 million flood alleviation scheme in North Yorkshire.

A new storage reservoir is being built to protect 149 homes and businesses in Catterick Village, as well as the A1 motorway, from flooding.

The facility will be developed upstream of Catterick and is capable of holding 91 million gallons of water.

Funded by the Environment Agency (EA), Highways England and North Yorkshire County Council, the year-long project will comprise of two large earth embankments up to six metres high, diversion of Brough Beck and the construction of a new flow control structure.


Landscaping works will also be undertaken including tree planting, reinstatement of hedgerows and the creation of a wetland pond.

The EA's own field team will build the banks, while specialist contractors will develop the concrete water control structure.

Phil Boyes, Project Manager, said: "When completed, the storage reservoir will hold flood water back so it flows more slowly down Brough Beck towards Catterick Village and the new section of the A1. This will significantly reduce flood risk in the area."

(LM)