BAM Mott JV starts £32m Exeter flood protection work

The Bam Nuttall and Mott MacDonald (BMM) joint venture starts work next week on the £32m second phase of the Exeter flood defence scheme.Construction activity to reduce flood risk to 3,200 homes and businesses will be taking place around the city for the next two years.The scheme involves construction of flood defences on both banks of the River Exe from Cowley Bridge to Countess Weir. The defences will include walls, banks, demountable weirs, gates and glass panels.The project is a partnership between the Environment Agency, Devon County Council and Exeter City Council.Team Van Oord delivered the first phase of the scheme downstream of Exeter Quay, starting in 2014. The Trew’s flood relief channel and the side spill weir at the top of the channel have been lowered. This increased the flow capacity of the flood relief channel to help reduce flood risk during high river flows. The check weir at the downstream end of the flood relief channel will be removed later in 2016 to increase flow capacity further.Exeter City Council and Devon County Council each contributed £3m to the scheme and £6m has come from government growth funding. The remainder is being funded by flood defence grant in aid.