Opened by council leader Gordon Matheson on Monday (October 31), the White Cart Flood Prevention scheme, which claims to be Scotland’s largest, aims to reduce the risk of flood damages worth more than £100m, protecting about 1,750 homes and 45 businesses along the White Cart River.

The scheme was developed and designed for the council by environmental and civil consultants Halcrow Group, in response to a number of flooding incidents over the years – usually a shallow river, the White Cart is prone to flash flooding. The scheme itself was built by construction firms Carillion and Volkerstevin and features flow controls from Hydro International.

Halcrow Group senior project director Douglas Luke, said: “We are delighted that the project is now complete and protecting thousands of Glasgow residents and many businesses from the threat and misery of flooding.

“Since 2002 we have expended some 50 person years of design time in developing and refining the scheme concept and final design of this holistic catchment scale solution including the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. Key to the success of this development has been the extensive consultation carried out with the many affected stakeholders and the public.”

As part of the project, 90,000 square metres of rich and diverse wetland habitats such as woodland, scrub, wet grasslands, shallow scrapes and ponds has been created to help reduce flood risk, along with enhancing the natural environment through the planting of trees,

According to the council, while still under construction, the scheme passed its first major flooding test earlier this year as the prevention scheme flood storage areas held back the water, helping to prevent damage of between £1m and £3m.

Speaking at the opening, Mr Matheson said: “The White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme is not just about great engineering, at its heart it is a regeneration project – both in terms of the environmental improvements and the significant enhancements made to allow future economic development to take place.”

Carys Matthews

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