A visit to site today provided a good opportunity to see first-hand the progress being made in the car park of the Riverside Building.

Teams have been busy this week carrying out preparatory works ready for piling to commence on 25 November for the new bridge abutment. With this key milestone approaching, it's positive to see the site taking shape and preparations progressing well.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

Chris

Last week, we completed the removal of boundary fencing, brickwork and sections of tarmac within the Riverside Building car park. These works have helped prepare the area for the next phase of construction activities.

We also completed site clearance works on the eastern side of the beck where the former garages were demolished. This area is now ready for Northern Powergrid to begin its planned utility diversion works from 16 November.

On Friday 6 November, we hand-delivered letters to residents of Grove Hill providing an update on the planned opening of the temporary access road through the glamping site. Subject to the completion of ongoing utility diversion works, we currently expect the road to become operational from Monday 30 November 2026. We are currently awaiting Northern Powergrid's relocation of the existing electricity pole at the tie-in point before the final connection can be completed. These works are currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18 November, after which construction of the tie-in can commence. We handed out car permits which residents are asked to display on their dashboard when driving through the glamping site.

Preparation of the Riverside Building car park for piling

Entrance to site compound opposite KasKane

Preparation of the site of the former garages ready for Northern Powergrid

Looking Ahead to This Week

Our planned activities for this week include:

• Temporary closure of the footpath between Zetland Row and the pedestrian bridge to allow construction activities to be carried out safely.

• Commencing construction of the piling mat within the Riverside Building car park. A piling mat is a specially constructed working platform that provides a stable foundation for heavy construction plant and machinery.

As always, we will continue to monitor and minimise disruption wherever possible and would like to thank the local community for its continued patience and support while these works progress.

This week, we have installed the site cabins within the construction compound. These facilities will provide office space, welfare facilities, a kitchen, and toilets for the site team as work progresses.

In the short term, the cabins will be powered by a temporary generator while we await a permanent mains electricity connection from Northern Powergrid.

You may also have noticed that we have started removing sections of boundary fencing and brickwork within the Riverside Building car park. Temporary traffic lights have also been installed on New Company Row to support these activities and ensure works can be carried out safely.

Looking Ahead to Next Week

Our planned activities for next week include:

• Removal of boundary fencing and walls at the tie-in point between Grove Hill and the adjacent glamping site, where the temporary access route will be established.

• Clearance of tree stumps and vegetation within the Riverside Building car park to prepare the area for upcoming construction activities.

• Construction of a piling mat within the Riverside Building car park will commence. A piling mat is a specially constructed working platform that provides a stable foundation for piling rigs and other heavy construction equipment to operate safely across the site.

As always, we will continue to monitor and minimise disruption wherever possible and thank the community for its continued patience and support while these works are undertaken.

Planned Works – Week Commencing 19 October

• Completing the stone surface across the former play park area to create a safe and stable construction compound.
• Continuing preparations to connect the new access route through the glamping site.
• Starting installation of new site drainage infrastructure.
• Constructing foundations for site welfare and office facilities.
• Preparing for the next phase of works on the western side of the river.
  
  

Planned Works – Week Commencing 26 October

• Introducing temporary traffic lights on New Company Row to enable safe access to the construction site.
• Beginning removal of existing hardstanding and surfaces to prepare for future flood defence works.
• Continuing drainage and access improvement works across the site.
• Installing temporary site facilities required to support the construction programme.
• Progressing utility connections needed for the main construction compound.
• Continuing preparations for upcoming bridge and flood alleviation works.
  
  

Play Park Reinstatement

• Following the removal of the existing play area to facilitate construction, planning is now beginning for its future reinstatement.
• We are committed to working with local residents, families and young people to understand what they would like to see included in the replacement play area once the site compound is no longer required.
• Further information on how the community can share ideas and feedback will be provided in future updates.
  
  

Pre-Condition Surveys Conducted by Brown Rural

• We are expecting to receive pre-condition survey reports for homes that had a survey conducted this year.
• We will endeavour to provide those affected with a copy of the report in due course.
  
  

Following feedback from residents regarding parking, BAM proposes maintaining a 3-metre clearway along Grove Hill to allow vehicles and construction traffic to pass while avoiding a full parking suspension where possible. The proposed clearway is shown in green.

The current programme is for a full closure of the road between Grove Hill and Zetland Row from 30 November. From this date onwards vehicle access to Grove Hill will be via Magpie Wood Glamping Site. BAM will maintain pedestrian access to Zetland Row wherever practicable. Please note we are waiting for Northern Powergrid to move an electricity pole at the top end of Grove Hill in order to be able to open the temporary road through the glamping site. This is currently schedule to take place from 18 November.

The clearway arrangement will be monitored to ensure it meets safety and access requirements. If necessary, additional measures may be introduced. However, BAM's preference is to retain parking outside properties for residents wherever possible.

Progress last week (week commencing 5 October)

• The site compound on the playing field continues to be established. More than 1,200 tonnes of stone have been delivered and placed to create a robust working platform for construction vehicles, plant and materials.
• Removal of the play area surfacing and perimeter fencing has continued to make way for the site compound.
• Construction of the new access track through the glamping site towards the Grove Hill tie-in point is ongoing, including vegetation clearance, earthworks and formation of the route.
• Preparatory works on the existing glamping site access track have been completed, including planing of the existing surface and tie-in areas ahead of resurfacing.
• Security hoarding around the site compound is progressing well and is now approximately 60% complete, helping to ensure the safety of both the public and site operatives.

Planned Works this week (week commencing 12 October)

• Installation of a new tarmac surface to the access track through the glamping site in preparation for use by Grove Hill residents.
• Continued removal of remaining play area equipment, surfacing and associated infrastructure.
• Completion of stone placement, grading and compaction across the site compound to provide the final working surface.
• Completion of the compound security measures, including installation of remaining hoarding sections and access gates.
• Ongoing preparation works for the connection between the glamping site access route and Grove Hill, including final groundworks and formation works.

We would like to thank local residents, visitors and businesses for their continued patience while these essential works are undertaken. Every effort is being made to minimise disruption while safely progressing the project.

As of Thursday 10th September, the play park and playing field off Mill Lane will be closed for the duration of the ongoing Flood Alleviation Scheme. As previously stated, this will be the location of BAM's compound and will be operational with construction vehicles, staff and other works.

We understand that there is some disappointment that the current play park will be removed and the playing field will be out of use, but in the coming weeks and months we will be engaging with residents as to what YOU would like to see put back as we are work to replace and upgrade the existing equipment.

Look out for updates on play park consultations here, on the EHQ page or via Facebook groups.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via email: SkinningroveFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk

Impact on some residents likely

Northern Power Grid (NPG) and contractors, Freedom, will be present within the village starting Thursday 20th August until Friday 28th August. During this period NPG and/or contractors Freedom, will undertake multiple activities in and around the playing field

Thursday 20th August

NPG staff will begin installation of new steel pole, works include excavating a pole hole, installing the pole and letting the concrete infill set around the pole. This area will be cordoned off as the works are ongoing and the concrete sets

Monday 24th August

NPG contractors Freedom to begin the excavation from the newly installed Steel pole across the playing field and up to the pole at the side of Mill Lane. This is scheduled for 3 days including the installation of the new Low Voltage cable. This should have no impact on traffic

Friday 28th August

There is set to be a Localised Power Outage as the works include the dropping of the existing overhead wires across the field area and connection/energise the new Low Voltage cable. These works are scheduled for most of this day with the Power Outage affecting some, but not all residents from 09:00 – 14:00.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused due to the works, any updates will be posted here.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via email: SkinningroveFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk

If you would like to more information on NPG's planned power cuts, to understand what they will be doing and why, please visit www.northernpowergird.com/planned-power-cuts.

Ground Investigation works are set to begin Monday 24th August, lasting approximately 10-13 days.

The location of these works will start from in Magpie Wood Glampsite before moving towards the lower end of the playing field and KasKane area. There should be little to no impact on traffic during this time.

Any question feel free to email: SkinningroveFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk

From Tuesday 11th August, demolition of 3 garages between Zetland Row and Grove Hill will begin.

This work should only affect the immediate footpath nearest the bottom-most garage. BAM will be onsite to oversee this with some areas (pathways) out of use until the works are complete. The steps that come down adjacent to the top garage will be out of use during this time so please find a suitable alternative route. The road between Grove Hill and Zetland Row should see little impact so traffic impact will be kept to a minimum.

An excavator and van will park within the site fencing, and possibly impact the nearest lane during loading but residents will be kept informed.

Any questions feel free to contact our email: SkinningroveFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk