Work Begins on Flood Protection for Taunton

Project Taunton has announced that construction of the new flood protection scheme at Long Run Farm is due to start on 11 August. A critical part of Project Taunton, the work will safeguard existing homes and businesses in the town as well as protecting the future regeneration programme.

The flood scheme is anticipated to take four months and once completed the area will be landscaped and presented to the community as a public green space accessible via foot and cycle paths with safe places for children to play and protected habitats for wildlife.

Project Taunton is the £1billion, 50 hectare regeneration of Taunton. It is one of the largest town centre regeneration programmes in the South West and will create 2,000 new homes in the town centre and support at least 18,000 new homes across Taunton as a whole. It will also provide 80,000m² of employment space, 50,000m² of new retail space and at least 7,000 jobs.

Ian Franklin, Project Director of Project Taunton, said: "The start of the flood protection scheme at Long Run Farm is a hugely important milestone for Project Taunton, it will help prevent flooding in the town and allow for developments to take place along the River Tone, improving access, creating open spaces and making the river a focus for the town.

"We are mindful of keeping disruption to a minimum for residents in the area. The soil deposits from works are not being taken off site which means the traffic movement will largely be confined to the beginning and end of the development."

Taunton's flood protection scheme has been enabled by the investment of £2.4 million Regional Infrastructure Fund from the South West RDA. The RDA previously funded the acquisition of land as part of a wider investment in the delivery of Project Taunton.

 French Weir to Long Run Farm

More information can be found at www.projecttaunton.co.uk or by calling the Project Taunton team on 01823 250 80.