Update on Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme
Date published:
Work on the Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme continues to move forward with advanced works involving NIE service relocation commencing on Monday 19 October 2026.
These works will take place in People’s Park in Portadown and includes service diversion works for Phase 1 of the scheme.
These essential works are in preparation for taking forward this vitally important scheme to help address the growing threat of river flooding due to climate change. The £60m scheme will deliver enhanced protection for over 380 homes and businesses at 21 sites throughout the Portadown area.
The Department has carefully considered expert advice, and a number of design changes have been made to minimise the amount of service relocation and diversionary works required.
The Department continues to engage with stakeholders to ensure service relocation works are carried out at a time that is convenient for all parties involved, and with the minimum amount of disruption possible.
The Department will continue to keep the public updated as this critical scheme progresses. More information about the scheme is available on: https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/portadown-flood-alleviation-scheme.
Notes to editors:
- Significant flood events have been recorded during 1986, 1987, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015/16 and 2023. The frequency and extent of the flooding is predicted to increase with the effects of climate change. In October 2011 out-of-bank flooding occurred in the Portadown area resulting in the flooding of properties and infrastructure. Further floods in 2014 and 2015 caused damage to residential properties and businesses across the wider Portadown area.
- The proposed scheme is being designed to protect against a “1% Annual Exceedance Probability flood” with an allowance for climate change. This is a flood which is calculated to have a 1% chance of occurring in any given year and is known as the design flood event.
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