River Gaunless flood defence

The River Gaunless Flood Alleviation scheme, funded by Defra and built by Interserve, reduces the flood risk from the River Gaunless and its tributaries and protects homes and businesses in Bishop Auckland, West Auckland and South Church in County Durham.

The most important part of the scheme is a 15-metre-high dam upstream of Spring Gardens in West Auckland that works by storing water during flood conditions then releasing it slowly through devices know as 'hydrobrakes'. It can store up to a million cubic metres of water, forming a kilometre-long lake behind the dam.

The dam was built reusing as much on-site material as possible to reduce the number of lorry deliveries and to cut the environmental impact and disturbance to the local community. This is estimated to have saved 12,000 lorry deliveries of clay.

As well as civil engineering work, over 32,000 trees and shrubs were planted and an 11-hectare site near Spring Gardens is currently being transformed into a valuable wildlife wetland habitat, with reed beds, ponds and water meadows. An abandoned railway line was transformed into a 2.4 kilometre nature and exercise trail, with benches, viewing points and grassy seating areas.

The scheme was awarded the national Institution of Civil Engineers' prestigious Brunel Medal in recognition of the project team’s valuable service and excellence in civil engineering.

Ian Hodge, the Environment Agency's area flood risk manager, said: "The award recognises the very hard work by everyone on the team. We're delighted that the tireless efforts of our partners to complete the works as quickly as possible has won another award for the scheme, and that it is now doing its job protecting the people of West Auckland and South Church."