Exeter flood defence scheme
Updated 2 November 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exeter-flood-defence-scheme/exeter-flood-defence-scheme
The Exeter flood defence scheme project will reduce flood risk to more than 3,000 homes and businesses in Exeter. The project is managed by the Environment Agency with support from project partners Exeter City Council and Devon County Council.
Latest news
Now that the new flood defences have been in place for several years, and have had chance to ‘bed’ in, we have identified some minor work to make operation and maintenance activities safer, quicker and easier in the future.
This work includes:
- new outfall work near Cowley Bridge
- resurfacing work on Station Road
- a connecting path between two sets of steps near Hayes Barton Court
- access improvements to the mill leat control structure in Countess Wear, including new vehicular access paths
- minor changes to the crematorium footbridge and Northbrook watercourse where it meets the mill leat
- new steps down to the flap valve at Waring Bowen Court
This work is likely to take place over the winter period and into spring. We also continue to develop plans for closing off flood defences at the Sam Jones pub on the quay.
Phases 1 and 2 complete
The recent major upgrade to the Exeter flood defence scheme was built between 2014 and 2021. The work was split into 2 main phases.
Phase 1 involved work in and around the Trews flood relief channel. This work did not require extensive designing nor planning permission and so were started early to reduce flood risk to the Exeter Quay area as soon as possible. We also built 2 fish passes to help fish migrate along the Exe.
Construction of Phase 1 began in 2014. The Trews flood relief channel and the side spill weir at the top of the channel have been lowered. This has increased the flow capacity of the flood relief channel, which will help reduce flood risk to the quay area during high river flows. We also changed the channel from being the flat grassed channel it was previously, into a more natural channel with a stream running through it. This work was completed in 2016.
The Phase 2 work was much larger and stretched across the whole of Exeter, from Cowley Bridge down to Bridge Road, Countess Wear. Material ‘won’ from the Phase 1 work was reused in new embankments. Phase 2 also saw the construction of new flood walls, flood gates, control structures and bespoke demountable defences at Exeter Quay.
Due to the impact the flood defence work had on the environment, habitat mitigation works were completed in various parts of Exeter, which included new wetland areas, the planting of thousands of trees including community orchard areas, and the introduction of a variety of new grass/wildflower seed mixes used on the new flood embankments to improve biodiversity alongside the Exe as it flows through the city.
Identifying the need for improved flood defences in Exeter
Exeter has a long history of flooding, going back as far as the 13th century. The original flood defences were built in the 1960s and 70s after devastating flooding affected more than 1,000 properties.
Although these flood defences had worked effectively since they were built, studies carried out by the Environment Agency indicated that in a more extreme flood the defences would not be able to protect vulnerable parts of the city.
This animation shows how Exeter might have looked like in a flood event with a 1 in 100 (1%) chance of happening in any given year, before the recent scheme was built. When the new scheme is finished, the proposed improvements to the flood defence scheme will reduce flood risk for many properties throughout the city limits.
Partnership contributions
The scheme benefits from £6 million of government growth funding which was set aside to promote economic growth in places affected by flooding. Exeter City Council and Devon County Council are each contributing £3 million to the scheme; the remainder is being funded by flood defence grant in aid.
Contact
To contact the Exeter flood defence scheme project team email ExeterFDS@environment-agency.gov.uk.