The Government has announced that works have began on the Lowdham Cocker Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme

The new £26 million flood storage reservoir will protect homes and businesses in the Nottinghamshire village.

Environment agency officials, local MPs, councillors and members of the local flood action group attended an official ground-breaking ceremony today, 6 October.

The flood storage area will be able to hold up to 100,000 cubic meters of water when the Cocker Beck floods.

Construction work will involve cutting into an embankment of the Cocker Beck and using compacted soil and ultra-low carbon concrete to create a raised reservoir.

Trees will be planted on the site as well as the creation of three hectares of new woodland nearby.

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Paul Lockhart, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager at the Environment Agency said: "We are delighted that we are now in the position of being able to commence the construction of a major Flood Alleviation Scheme to protect the people of Lowdham.

"The reservoir we are building will provide a very high level of protection against flooding to 191 properties, and it represents excellent value for money for the taxpayer.

"We would not have been able to achieve this without the long-term support of the MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick MP, our local authority partners (Nottinghamshire County Council and Newark and Sherwood District Council), the members of the Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, and, most importantly, the local community Flood Action Group (FLAG) and the Parish Council, who have been very supportive throughout the process."

The Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP for Sherwood and Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries said: "As a serving Defra Minister, and local MP, I am acutely aware of the distress and cost that flooding causes to our communities.

"This £26m Reservoir Scheme will provide a very significant level of protection from flooding to the community and will, I’m sure, give confidence to the people of Lowdham so they will be able to carry on with their lives without the constant worry of future flooding."

The scheme that will generate £50 million for the local economy will be completed in Spring 2026.