FAQs
What areas will benefit from The Bourn Flood Risk Management Scheme?
The primary aim of this project is to reduce flood risk from The Bourn to approximately 200 homes and businesses in Bournville and Stirchley, including the Cadbury factory. The areas at risk are shown on the flood risk map
The volume of water that is proposed to be temporarily stored in parks is water that would otherwise be flooding areas of Bournville and Stirchley. There are minimal benefits to flood risk reduction beyond the confluence with the River Rea.
How has the flood risk from The Bourn been determined?
River models are crucial tools for estimating flood risks by simulating how water flows through a river system. These computer models analyse multiple factors like rainfall, river flow, and topography to predict flood extent, depth, and arrival time, aiding in flood forecasting and mitigation efforts.
We have now completed the first phase of our modelling, which incorporates the latest industry standard methodology, updated hydrology and verification to historic flood events. The model looks at how current and future rainfall patterns would affect the river.
What about other sources of flooding, such as surface water risk?
Flooding in this area is from multiple sources. Surface water and sewer flooding do occur during severe rainstorms when the local drainage cannot move it away fast enough. Temporary flood storage areas will reduce the level in The Bourn downstream which can help surface water draining into the watercourse, but this scheme will not prevent localised surface water flooding. We are working with partners and the community to better understand these risks and potential solutions. The roles and responsibilities of relevant organisations are detailed in: Your watercourse: rights and roles
Why have Valley Parkway and Manor Farm Park been chosen for temporary flood storage over other areas?
A range of locations have been considered, and areas shortlisted based on those that can make a meaningful difference to flood risk. Each option needs to be technically feasible, economically and financially viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially acceptable.
Valley Parkway and Manor Farm Park have been identified as suitable locations due to their size and position within the catchment; being upstream of the properties at risk, but downstream enough to capture a significant amount of rainfall falling within and travelling down the catchment. The natural topography of a location is also considered so that there are no adverse flood impacts to nearby properties.
Could Nature-based Solutions (NbS) be an option instead of temporary flood storage?
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer a wide range of benefits, including increased resilience to floods and droughts, enhanced biodiversity, and improvements in air and water quality. However, within a relatively small urban catchment, NbS alone cannot provide the level of resilience required to replace engineered solutions. Nonetheless, they can still deliver valuable benefits and play an important role as part of a broader toolkit to help achieve our outcomes. More detailed information is available: Nature-based solutions: Environment Agency position statement - GOV.UK
Is Property Flood Resilience (PFR) an option instead of temporary flood storage?
Property Flood Resilience (PFR) involves measures designed to prevent floodwater from entering individual properties, such as flood doors, self-closing air bricks, and pumps. PFR can help reduce damage and accelerate recovery for property owners, making it an important option for managing flood risk in areas where traditional defences like embankments, flood walls, or storage solutions are not feasible. However, PFR has limitations: it typically offers a lower standard of protection, requires ongoing maintenance, and relies on timely action by the property owner, and often their adjoining neighbours, to implement the measures effectively.
More information is available: Householders-Directory-of-PFR_8-25_v3.pdf
What will our parks look like, and can we still use all areas of the park?
The parks will remain as parks and, aside from any temporary restrictions during the construction phase, will continue to be open to the community and used just as they are now. There is also potential for enhancements to be incorporated into the final design.
Footpaths will be fully accessible, and the slopes of any grassed embankments will be safe to walk on. The design does not include any permanent flood water storage, and no increased risks to people would be acceptable.
Please take a look at examples of similar completed schemes in the local area—you may be surprised to learn that they also serve as flood storage areas, yet this is not immediately apparent.
We will be developing outline designs, including landscape plans and visualisations, to show in more detail how the parks would look once the scheme is in place. These will be shared with the community, and there will be further consultation early next year, before any final decisions are made about the future of the scheme.
How will you preserve the existing heritage, habitats and wildlife in the parks?
We respect and are committed to preserving the legacy of George Cadbury, along with the heritage, habitats, and wildlife within these parks.
Our goal is to minimise environmental impact, with a target of achieving a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain, which is a requirement for any planning application.
There are no plans, and there never have been, to relocate the boathouse or to alter the boating lake in Valley Parkway. We aim to future-proof the heritage in this area and enhance it where possible.
We are aware of Bournville Village Trust’s tree preservation policy. While some tree removal may be unavoidable, we will work closely with the Trust to agree on what is permissible. We routinely plant replacements at a ratio of at least one lost tree to five new ones. Additionally, initiatives such as wildflower meadow planting can be incorporated to further enhance the parks’ beauty and biodiversity.
We are committed to making the parks better for both people and the environment and we welcome ideas from the local community.How does the flood storage area operate – what are the impacts during a flood event?
Flood Storage areas are designed to temporarily hold back floodwaters and release them slowly, helping to protect downstream communities from the impacts of severe flooding. They often consist of landscaped raised embankments (bunds) to temporarily contain water within lower lying land which can be used as normal outside of flood events. Often this land is prone to flooding anyway.
The Bourn river modelling has shown that water retention in these storage areas is likely to last only a few hours, and only during rare flood events. A Public Safety Risk Assessment is carried out, and any potential risks are designed out to ensure public safety both during and outside of flood events.
Will temporary flood storage increase the flood risk to neighbouring or upstream areas?
Temporary flood storage areas are carefully designed to ensure that they do not increase flood risk to any other homes or businesses. In the unlikely event that a storage area reaches its maximum capacity, spillways will allow excess water to overflow safely downstream. As part of any planning application, the Environment Agency must carry out a full flood risk assessment to confirm that the scheme will not increase the risk of flooding to any homes and businesses.
Have we considered the impacts of pollution from sewerage in the storage waters, who is responsible for clearing up post a flood event?
We are working in collaboration with Severn Trent and are aware of the locations of their assets, the works they have carried out in the parks, and areas where ongoing issues persist. Any potential impacts from sewage spills will be carefully considered during the design and landscaping process.
The Environment Agency will be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the scheme, including managing the effects of blockages to ensure continued safety and functionality.
Could the proposed flood walls or embankments create surface water flooding behind them?
For any new structure, it is essential to manage flood impacts from all potential sources to ensure that there are no adverse flood impacts to nearby properties.
In some cases, non-return valves and flaps can be installed to allow surface water to escape while preventing backflow. These measures help ensure that flood risk is effectively controlled as part of the overall design.
When will we be able to see visualisations of the designs?
The outline designs are currently being developed over the summer and into the autumn. Once these are complete, economic and environmental assessments will be carried out, and visualisations based on the designs will be produced. We expect to be in a position to share these visualisations in early 2026.
Our current engagement plan includes holding a variety of events in early 2026, once the designs and further details of the proposals are available. These events are likely to include drop-in sessions, targeted meetings, and a public meeting. In the meantime, we will continue to consult with partners, and we will notify our mailing list and subscribers whenever updates are made to this online project page.
Is the project fully funded?
Any flood scheme is subject to government funding rules, which require a positive cost-benefit ratio. All schemes must progress through a series of approval stages, with each stage involving detailed scrutiny to ensure the proposal delivers value for money and benefits to the taxpayer.
We currently have funding secured for this financial year (2025/26) only. Beyond that, future funding remains uncertain, and we will be bidding for further funding as the scheme progresses. At present, we are at the appraisal stage. The detailed design and construction phases, which are expected to take approximately 3 to 4 years, are not yet funded.