Strategy Update

The original Lower Witham Strategy was completed in 1997. This was a 50 year strategy which recommended five phases of works. These included:

• Phase 1-3 embankment strengthening where banks were weak on the River Witham
• Phase 4 strengthening work to Delph tributaries
• Phase 5 armoured spillways and storage of flood water in at least four flood plain storage areas

Phases 1 and 2 were completed, with phase 3 partially completed by 2006.

Phases 4 and 5 were not completed due to funding rules and land availability challenges at the time. 

Flooding in 2019, and again during Storms Babet and Henk in the winter of 2023/24, has highlighted the need to update the long term strategy to manage flood risk in the Lower Witham Fens.

Work has been continuing on the strategic baseline report for the area. This report will summarise the evidence gathered about the catchment. It will be used to inform the future strategic plan for the area. 

We have also completed surveys including geotechnical, topographical, and LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) surveys. This is part of our asset health assessment, building an accurate and up to date picture of the Lower Witham flood risk management systems. 

For the latest project updates visit our Strategy Update newsfeed.

Part of the Lower Witham Strategy update will include an updated hydraulic model for the area. Work on building this is currently paused, due to the need to incorporate more data from across the whole catchment following the winter storms of 2023/24. When completed the model allow us to understand how a range of scenarios would affect water levels and flood defences, taking into account the latest evidence and projections for climate change. Work on the model is expected to restart in summer 2025 and deliver by spring 2026. 

Future scenarios to be tested using the model will include hypothetical breach locations and different management and maintenance approaches.