River Ouseburn diverted as part of £7m flood scheme

The River Ouseburn has been diverted as part of a major scheme to tackle flooding in Brunton Park, Newcastle.

Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency began the £7 million joint flood reduction scheme in October 2014.

The Brunton Park scheme will reduce the risk of flooding to more than one hundred properties in Mitford Gardens, Princes Close, Fairway Close, Princes Road, Waterbury Road and Clayworth Road.

Work has involved installing:

• 380 metres of new river channel to divert the Ouseburn

• A new storage basin to drain and store more than seven million litres of surface water

• 650 metres of flood defences (walls and earth embankment) and

• Two kilometres of new sewer pipe and a new storage tank, which will hold up to 450,000 litres of water

The newly created river channel and storage basin, known as SuDS (sustainable urban drainage system), will also create a valuable wetland habitat for wildlife. Kingfisher perches and an otter holt will also be installed.