LONDON, Aug. 10 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
The Environment Agency, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, has started construction on a major flood alleviation scheme inSkinningrove, with works due for completion in 2028.
The £13 million scheme will deliver a long-term solution to flooding fromSkinningroveBeck, protectingmore than 100homes and helping residents who have long faced disruption from the village's existing flood defences.
Currently, the Environment Agency operates manually controlled flood gates and demountable parapets at Stone Row Bridge when high water levels are forecast.
Because the beck can rise rapidly and with little warning, these defences must sometimes be operated at very short notice and can remain closed for extended periods - cutting off vehicle access for residents ofZetlandRow and Grove Hill.
The new scheme will remove that uncertainty entirely. Stone Row Bridge, along with its flood gates and parapets, will be demolished and replaced by a new bridge built between New Company Row andZetlandRow, adjacent to the Riverside Building, the village's former school.
The deck of the new bridge will sit above the height of the existing flood walls, meaning no flood gates will be required. Residents will have uninterrupted 24-hour vehicle access to their homes, regardless of conditions in thebeck.
Long term solution making a real difference
Planning permission was granted by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in February 2026.
Andrew Turner, Flood Risk Operations Manager, from the Environment Agency, said:
Once complete, this scheme will deliver a genuine step-change in flood protection for the community ofSkinningrove.
The new bridge will eliminate the need for manual operation of the flood gates altogether, removing the disruption and uncertainty that comes with the current arrangements.
It will also sit higher above the watercourse than the existing bridge, which means debris carried down thebeckduring heavy rainfall is far less likely to cause a blockage - one of the factors that can make flooding in the village worse.
This is a long-term solution that will make a real difference to people's lives.
The construction programme will take place in two phases:
*
Work on the new bridge is scheduled to run from September 2026 tolate2027, with piled foundations and abutments installed on both sides of the beck before a crane lifts the new structure into place near the Riverside Building. A temporary access road will be provided for Grove Hill residents during the construction period.
*
Demolition of Stone Row Bridge and infilling of the existing flood walls will follow between December 2027 andearly 2028.
The compound and storage area for theduration of theworkswill be onthe recreation groundbetween Mill Lane and the brook. The Environment Agency recognisesthe temporary closure of the play park here is disappointingfor the community. The play park will be restored with improved equipmentonce the works are complete.
The new bridge will also carry a lasting mark of local identity. Artist Mick Kirkby-Geddes, who designed the celebrated Skinningrove: The IronValley signon the corner of Mill Bank and Mill Lane, has created five original artwork designs for the bridge railings, drawing on themes close to the community: Skinningrove bonfires, local murals and statues, mining and the coast, fisheries, and wildflowers.The public can help choose the final design in an online vote, here:New Bridge Railings Artwork | Engage Environment Agency
Further Background
*
For much more about theSkinningroveFlood Alleviation Scheme, see the Environment Agency's Engagement HQ page
*
Thisshort videofeatures some members of the project team andlocal residentsexplaining the need and benefits of theSkinningroveFAS.
On construction
*
Construction is being carried out by BAM, which will work to minimise disruption to residents and the surrounding environment throughout the build.
*
Working hours will be limited to 0800-1800 Monday to Friday and 0800-1300 on Saturdays, with no works on Sundays or public holidays. Large deliveries will be scheduled outside school hours, and the team will follow strict environmental plans and noise and vibration limits throughout.
*
An outline of construction works,plans and traffic measures can be found on the Environment Agency's EngagementHQ page(link above)under 'planning documents'.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
