Preston flood scheme phase two submitted for 2026
Here’s the key update in plain English. The Environment Agency has lodged a planning application for phase two of the Preston & South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme, focused on Walton-le-Dale. If South Ribble Borough Council grants permission, work is planned to start in spring 2026 and finish in 2027, with the full programme expected to boost protection for thousands of properties.
What’s in the plan? Along the Rivers Ribble and Darwen, engineers would strengthen some existing barriers, raise the height where modelling shows extra room is needed, and add new flood walls and embankments. The Agency also proposes enhanced maintenance in nearby Frenchwood so assets are kept in good condition.
Why now? After intense rainfall in January 2025, the Agency’s flood manager Richard Knight said the current Walton-le-Dale walls were not overtopped, yet the downpours were a clear signal to improve defences as extreme weather becomes more frequent. That winter’s disruption across the North West showed how quickly rivers can rise.
You can have a say. The application has gone to South Ribble Borough Council. You can read the documents on the council’s planning website and submit a comment; you’ll need to register and your remarks are published for transparency. Larger schemes are usually decided in public by the Planning Committee, which meets roughly every four weeks and allows limited speaking time for residents and applicants.
Where this sits in the wider scheme. The Preston & South Ribble project is being delivered in two phases. According to the Environment Agency’s information hub, most of phase one along Broadgate and Riverside in Preston and in Lower Penwortham is already complete, with only short sections left. The overall programme is designed to better protect around 5,000 homes and workplaces.
What planners will assess. A flood risk assessment must show how the design manages today’s river levels and future climate impacts. Local planning authorities are required to consult the Environment Agency on flood‑risk matters, and separate flood risk activity permits may be needed for works close to a main river. Planning permission and permits are different; projects often need both.
What we’ve heard from residents so far. The Environment Agency ran a public consultation in Walton-le-Dale between 5 May and 5 June 2025 to test the proposals before applying. That consultation has closed and the feedback has informed the planning submission now in with the council.
Follow the funding. This local scheme sits within a national, two‑year £2.65 billion package to build or repair up to 1,000 flood projects. Government figures published in February and March 2025 set out plans for tens of thousands of extra properties to gain better protection by March 2026, with additional money earmarked for maintenance where assets need attention.
What this means day to day. In the short term, this is paperwork, not excavators. If permission is granted, the Agency would phase construction from spring 2026 to keep access open where possible. The scheme’s information hub has previously offered weekly drop‑in times at the BAC/EE Social & Sports Association-check current opening times before you go.
A note for your classroom or study group. Flood defences reduce risk; they don’t remove it. Planning policy must balance resilience with housing need, and some analyses suggest building is still proposed in high‑risk areas-one reason councils scrutinise flood maps, risk assessments and maintenance plans before deciding.