On 8 March 2019, the Environment Agency hosted an event with project partners and guests to demonstrate that the Marlow flood alleviation scheme is now in operation. Construction work was completed in autumn 2018.

Guests at the event were shown how the flood risk to some 287 properties in Marlow has been reduced. They also saw how, should Marlow now suffer prolonged or heavy rainfall, as it has several times in recent years and before, the risk of flooding from the river and groundwater to these properties has been lowered.

The Environment Agency worked with Buckinghamshire County Council and Marlow Town Council to deliver the £9.5 million scheme. The Environment Agency project team, including the contractors GBV, or GallifordTry and Black and Veatch, and consultants, were joined at the event by guests including the chief executive of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, Dominic Grieve MP and representatives of the partners.

Guests were shown around the site by the project team to see what has been constructed. They were also shown the planned interpretation boards that will be installed on the site for future visitors to see what the scheme has included to make Marlow less vulnerable to flooding.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said

The Environment Agency has worked with the local community, Buckinghamshire County Council and Marlow Town Council to deliver this £9.5 million scheme. It will better-protect the beautiful town of Marlow from flooding, not only from the Thames, but also from groundwater. There are real environmental benefits, too, with 18 hectares of habitat created and more than 300 trees and 10,000 shrubs planted.

This scheme is part of the Environment Agency’s plan to reduce the risk of flooding for 300,000 homes between 2015 and 2021.”

The final phase of the scheme which includes reinstatement and planting work is continuing and will take place over the summer months.

This scheme is part of the Environment Agency’s plan to reduce the risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, groundwater and surface water and from coastal erosion for a least 300,000 homes between 2015 and 2021. The Marlow scheme consists of new flood walls and embankments in the Gossmore Lane and Pound Lane areas of the town. It also includes a flood-storage area at Lower Pound Lane to replace the natural floodplain.

Low lying areas of Marlow are also prone to flooding from groundwater travelling up through the gravels found below the ground. So the scheme also includes a pumping system which pumps groundwater back into the Thames reducing the risk of flooding.

Modelling done by the Environment Agency shows that the scheme will benefit the 287 properties.