The Environment Agency is looking at options to improve flood resilience for the people of Portreath.

Why is The Environment Agency concerned about Portreath?

The Environment Agency's 'Flood Risk Management Plan for England' helps us focus our efforts on the highest risk communities. Across England, 175 communities are designated as having a nationally significant level of flood risk to people, the economy or the environment. Portreath is one these communities, it is one of only three communities in Cornwall designated at highest risk from flooding.

Portreath Now

Currently the Portreath Stream flows through the 1km Portreath Tunnel and into the sea north of the village. During floods, lack of capacity in the tunnel causes excess flood water to flow into Portreath and flood properties. There are two issues with the tunnel:

• It has limited capacity during a flood
• It is difficult to access safely for maintenance and emergency works

To minimise flood risk to the community, the Environment Agency inspect the tunnel and debris screen, as well as monitoring water levels and issuing flood warnings. In 2024, we also invested in improvements to the debris screen as part of a national programme.

Portreath in the Future

Flooding is forecast to increase in both severity and frequency due to changes in rainfall patterns related to climate change. Flooding can have a devastating impact and climate change means that we’re already seeing more extreme weather. The most recent climate change predictions confirm we will experience wetter winters and drier summers, with an increased likelihood of more intense rainfall leading to flooding.  

The Portreath Flood Resilience Proposal is now exploring how we can improve the existing flood defences at Portreath, to allow for future flooding and long-term maintenance and repair of the existing tunnel, which is approaching its 100th year. On the right hand side of this page you can read about the options and our preferred approach of reinstating the existing channel from the Debris Screen to Portreath Beach.

What has The Environment Agency done so far?

We have taken a series of actions to improve the way that flood risk is managed in the area:

• Reviewed and improved river and rainfall monitoring
• Provided a new targeted flood warning service, specifically for Portreath
• Worked with landowners and commercial growers in the catchment, to encourage best practice cropping and soil management
• Upgraded the debris screen to the tunnel, to improve its effectiveness and reduce health and safety risks

We are also now working with Cornwall Council, to review and update the Critical Drainage Area – a designated zone that sets standards for surface water drainage from new developments, in the growth area of Camborne, Pool and Redruth. You can read more about this on Cornwall Councils website SuDS for Cornwall.

We want you to get involved!

• Register with EngagementHQ to interact with the tools on this page.
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• We've provided a collection of information on this page based on the enquiries we've received, and the questions we had at the drop-in event.
• We will advertise future public events on this page, in addition to communicating them via other means.
  
• We've included the survey results from our previous public engagement event and we'll do the same for future events and surveys.
• There is a planned timeline of next steps to keep up to date with overall progress
• We will be adding to this page as the project progresses, let us know if there's information that would be useful to see here.
• You are welcome to contact us using the email provided for any enquiries relating to the Portreath Flood Resillience project - please add 'Portreath' to the subject line.
• We have a news section below where we will provide monthly updates. Do come back and have a look.