WORKS to alleviate flooding in Taunton as part of a £6 million major scheme have moved a step closer.
Somerset Council is working in partnership with the Environment Agency to help deliver a flood alleviation project to protect homes and businesses from flooding.
As part of these works, there will be improved flood defences along two stretches of the River Tone bank in the North Town area, which the council say will provide "increased protection" to hundreds of homes, as well as reduced flood risk to key sections of the A3027.
Bridge Street, Station Road and Staplegrove Road will see greater protection thanks to the installation of improved flood defences, as well as "vital" buildings such as the nearby North Town Primary School, police station, swimming pool and town council buildings.
The major scheme will help protect the Greenbrook Terrace and Wood Street regeneration sites while supporting the ongoing redevelopment of Firepool. This work is only part of the £6million funding, with parts of this money being spent elsewhere in the county.
Earlier this week, Somerset Council's Executive Committee reaffirmed its commitment to the flood defence project, which forms part of the wider Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation and Improvements Scheme.
Originally developed through a partnership between the former district and county councils and the Environment Agency before the creation of Somerset Council in 2023, the latest phase has now received formal approval.
Subject to final arrangements, work is expected to begin in 2026 and will involve the construction of reinforced concrete flood walls along key sections of the River Tone's left bank.
The walls will be finished in brick to complement nearby homes and existing flood defences.
The scheme is being fully funded through external contributions from Defra, the Somerset Rivers Authority and Homes England.
Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Public Health, Climate Change and Environment, Councillor Graham Oakes, said: "This is an incredibly important phase in in Taunton’s flood defence programme and it is great news for these residents, businesses and essential services that we are now much closer to putting a spade in the ground.
"We estimate that a flood event could cost the local economy up to £50 million, so that underlines how crucial this initiative is.
"You can put a price on the damage but you cannot put a price on the distress and disruption flooding causes to people’s lives. That’s why it is vital we get this work done."
Final design work is set to take place in the coming months, with construction expected to commence during the 2026/27 financial year.
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