Work has started on a £13.3 million project to protect villages on both sides of the river Trent in North Lincolnshire.

The scheme, located in Scunthorpe, was awarded to VBA, a joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin's Atkins business.

The project will see 3.8km of sheet piles installed along the east bank of the river from Keadby bridge down to the M180 bridge. The extensive flood defence will provide significant protection to the villages of Burringham Gunness and East Butterwick. The sheet piles will be topped off with a concrete capping beam to complete the defence level. Additional protection to the existing river bank will also be installed to reduce erosion.


Nick Culshaw, operations director at VBA, said: "We are delighted to be working with the council to deliver this important scheme. This flood defence project will protect people's home from flooding and protect new developments and businesses."

Cllr Rob Waltham, the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, added: "Thanks to government funding, this extensive flood defence scheme will not only protect our existing communities of Burringham, it will pave the way for future development and provide protection for the six new Trentside villages as part of Lincolnshire Lakes.

"Thanks to these new flood defences we can give residents, both current and future, peace of mind that their homes and communities are protected."

(MH)