Taunton Flood Defences Ready to Protect the Town
Taunton Flood Defences Ready to Protect the Town
Thursday 6 November saw the official opening of work on the Long Run Farm flood protection scheme for Taunton, enabling Project Taunton to continue with the town's regeneration. 
The scheme is vital for Project Taunton because it safeguards Firepool, the new commercial heart of the town, and allows the Third Way Road and other important developments to be built.
The flood protection work took four months to complete and was delivered on schedule by construction company May Gurney. The site was chosen following the results of a study by the Environment Agency which identified its significance in increasing the River Tone flood storage capacity.
The completed area will be landscaped providing the community with a public green space accessible via foot and cycle paths, with safe places for children to play and protected habitats for wildlife.
Funding for the purchase of the land and construction work was provided by the South West RDA to help unlock the business potential of Taunton and safeguard its economy. The Agency has invested a total of £7 million into Project Taunton. 
Talking about the significance of the flood protection for the town's future, Ian Franklin, Project Director of Project Taunton, said: "This is of huge importance for Project Taunton. It means that the town is now better protected against future flooding and gives us the confidence and reassurance to continue with all the exciting new developments."
Alastair Godfrey, professional services manager at the South West RDA, said: "I am absolutely delighted that this vital stage of the regeneration of Taunton has been delivered both on budget and on time. The flood defences were a big hurdle that has now been overcome and they are critical to the economic redevelopment of Taunton." 
Graham Quarrier, project manager at the Environment Agency, said: "We are pleased to have worked with Project Taunton from an early stage, ensuring that the management of flood risk is built into the plans to regenerate Taunton. Long Run Farm demonstrates that we can devise solutions that are good for the town and the natural environment. We look forward to continuing our partnership in the coming years when we plan to enhance the River Tone corridor for the benefit of residents, visitors and wildlife."
Project Taunton is one of the largest town centre regeneration programmes in the South West. It 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.
Firepool is the first phase of development for Project Taunton and alone will provide 50,000 m² of office space, more than 400 residential units supported by leisure and retail accommodation and it is anticipated 3,500-4,000 jobs.
Cllr Ross Henley, Leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, said "This is an important milestone in the regeneration plans for Taunton. Now that the flood defences have been strengthened, we look forward to moving ahead with the other exciting developments planned for the town."
