Latest news with #OurCityOurRiver
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Work set to start on new flood defences in Derby
Construction work is set to start on the second phase of a major flood defence scheme for Derby. A new flood wall and floodgates are set to be constructed as part of the Derby Riverside scheme, which aims to protect properties along the east bank of the River Derwent from Causey Bridge to Derwent are also set to demolish riverside office blocks in Stuart Street to create a new riverside green area which Derby City Council says will create more space for flood water to pass through the city in "a controlled corridor".Preparatory work has already started on the site, with contractors set to start demolition and construction in June, the authority said. A number of trees will be chopped down along the route, which the council says is necessary to allow the defences to be built and to make sure there are no obstructions in the riverside park which is designed to let flood water flow Derby Riverside scheme aims to protect Breadsall, Darley Abbey Mills Bridge, the area between North Riverside and Meadow Lane, and sites at Derby Junction Railway Bridge, Pride Park, Ambaston and Shardlow from floods. It is part of the wider three-phase Our City Our River project, which aims to protect an area between Alfreton Road Industrial Estate and Alvaston river burst its banks in 2023 and caused widespread flooding along the eastern bank of the Derwent following Storm Carmel Swan, cabinet member for climate change, transport and sustainability, said: "These works are crucial as we continue to future proof the city against extreme weather and unlock the potential for regeneration along the river. "We can now look forward to seeing work begin on site in the near future."
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Unusable' storm-damaged city building pulled down
A building badly damaged by Storm Babet in 2023 is being demolished after the owners said it could no longer be are ripping down the former Capital Hair and Beauty building which sits near the Pentagon Island junction in Derby, on the West Meadows Industrial Estate. Derby City Council granted planning permission for the building - once a training centre for car firm Motorpoint - to be demolished last year. In planning documents Motorpoint, which still owns the building, said it would use the land for "vehicle display". The building's owners told the city council during the planning process it could no longer be used after it sustained significant damage when Storm Babet hit the city in October storm caused havoc across Derby and Derbyshire, with Pentagon Island left underwater. The flooding was so deep three men were seen kayaking around the island and nearby businesses in Chequers Road closed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said former occupier Capital Hair and Beauty no longer wished to remain in the building "due to the insurance risk" in case of more floods in the area. Flood defence plans In planning documents, the car firm told the council it had not been able to occupy the building since the flooding. They said: "The building is beyond economical repair so Motorpoint have decided to demolish the building and use [it] for vehicle display."The city council finalised further multimillion-pound plans to improve the city's flood defences in February. This is centred on work for the second phase of the city council's Our City Our River (OCOR) scheme, mainly affecting the city centre and the Silk Mill area of the city, the LDRS said. Plans for the third phase include improving flood defences around the Chaddesden Sidings area (Chequers Road) as well as around Raynesway.
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Derby: £35m flood defence package confirmed for city
The next phase of a flood defence programme in Derby will finally come to fruition after millions of pounds worth of funding was Environment Agency has confirmed £35m will be given towards the Our City Our River (OCOR) scheme which includes work to demolish office blocks in the city centre along the River Derwent to turn it into green area will be used as both a park and a natural flood defence should water burst its banks during a City Council leader Nadine Peatfield told the BBC the money will protect homes and businesses as well as regenerating part of the city centre. Property flood resilience schemes across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, will also receive £2.5m, the Environment Agency £35m funding focuses on the opposite side of the river from the side which formed phase one of the flood defence included work in front of the council offices and the city's crown court. Phase two will involve the demolition of the riverside office blocks in Stuart Street to create a new green area, designed for flood water to go around Exeter Bridge and help lower river levels through the city by making space for water. Council documents describe Derby as having a long history of flooding with records dating back to records from 1931, 1932 and 1965 show extensive flooding of varying extents to Darley Abbey Mills and the centre of Derby. The existing flood defences were constructed following the 1965 flood and run along the left bank of the River Derwent throughout Derby. In the flood event in 2000, the existing defences were close to river burst its banks in 2023 and caused widespread flooding along the eastern bank of the Derwent following Storm Babet. Peatfield said: "It's absolutely brilliant news for Derby we've been waiting a long time to move onto phase two [of the project]. "It finally gives us the green light to not only protect the city from the dangers of flooding but to use this opportunity to regenerate that part of the city as well. "The plans have been there for a long time - we've known what we've needed to do but these things are all about funding. "Flooding used to be a one-in-100 event and now it's happening every couple of years - this is the reality of climate change and we've got to be resilient and ready to tackle it."Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell added: "With this new funding, we will work closely with the government to deliver the vital projects that are needed across the country, ensuring our investment goes to those communities who need it the most."
