Diverting the river - a major project milestone - 11 September 2025

On 11 September 2025 the project reached a major milestone. We removed an earth bund at the upstream end of the new river channel which allowed the river to flow through the new channel and control structure for the first time.

We achieved this by:

• regrading the river banks downstream of the new control structure.
• carrying out a fish rescue on the (now old) Roding channel to ensure that no fish were left stranded when the flows were diverted to the new channel.
• putting in an earth bund on the (now old) Roding channel to stop the flow of water.
• removing an earth bund at the upstream end of the new river channel to enable the water to flow down the new channel and into the wetland for the first time.

This marks a major milestone for the project as the river being diverted through the control structure enables construction of the whole of the earth embankment. The embankment will cross over the old Roding channel to meet the control structure.

Whilst the river is now flowing through the control structure on its new route, it is important to note that the project does not provide flood risk benefit to communities yet. This is because elements of the control structure still need to be completed once the embankment is in place - at which point it will be able to impound (hold back) water.

To see photos of the river diversion taking place click here: Photo Gallery | The River Roding Project | Engage Environment Agency