The Leader of Glasgow City Council has inaugurated Scotland’s largest flood prevention scheme.

This scheme will protect hundreds of homes and business on the southside of the city.

Councillor Gordon Matheson was joined in Glasgow by children from Battlefield Primary School to unveil the plaque for the new £53 million White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme.

The new scheme will reduce the risk of flood damages of over £100 million by protecting approximately 1750 homes and businesses along the river.

As part of the design of the ambitious engineering project there have been major enhancements made for Glasgow’s biodiversity and wildlife habitats with the creation of new woodland, scrub, species-rich wet grasslands, shallow scrapes and ponds and other artificial habitats.

Councillor Matheson, at the ceremony overlooking the White Cart, said: "For over a century the White Cart Water has caused serious flood damage to homes and commercial properties on the south side of Glasgow, many of these caused by relatively minor storms.

"We can say that people living on or near this river don't have to worry that heavy rains will cause havoc and flooding to their homes and businesses, they will be protected. I can confirm that we will now be able to give the 1710 homes and 45 businesses that have been under constant threat of flooding a letter of comfort to their insurance companies to allow them to either get or reduce their properties insurance premiums.

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"We have been very ambitious for this scheme. The White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme is not just about great engineering. At its heart, it is a regeneration project – both in terms of the environmental improvements and the significant enhancements made to allow future economic development to take place. It has not only improved the quality of life of many residents living close to the White Cart Water but will also help support future growth in the local economy. Indeed, this project has secured the future viability of communities affected by flooding from the White Cart.

"I am delighted to be able to inaugurate this fantastic scheme and commend the wonderful innovative work carried out to make this such a success."

Mark Gardner, operations director at VolkerStevin, the contractor who built the flood prevention scheme, said: "We are delighted to have been involved in this scheme, which will provide very real benefits to the local community. Over the last two years, a big part of our work has been speaking with local residents and businesses, so we understand how much difference this scheme will make to people."

Malcolm Hyatt, contract director at Carillion, the contractor who constructed the flood storage area, said: "Carillion are proud to have worked with Glasgow City Council and other stakeholders in constructing the flood storage areas. The scheme has had a positive environmental effect on the local habitat and affected areas of Glasgow. Carillion is also committed to promoting more sustainable communities and hopefully our partnership in this project has helped deliver on this aim."

Douglas Luke, Senior Project Director at Halcrow Group Ltd who are the Glasgow based civil and environmental consultants responsible for the design and construction supervision of the flood prevention scheme said: "We are delighted that the project is now complete and protecting thousands of Glasgow residents and many businesses from the threat and misery of flooding. Since 2002 we have expended some 50 person years of design time in developing and refining the scheme concept and final design of this holistic catchment scale solution including the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. Key to the success of this development has been the extensive consultation carried out with the many affected stakeholders and the public."

Alex Stephenson, Stormwater Director for Hydro International, said: "The five giant cone-shaped Hydro-Brake Flow Controls installed in the dams to hold back the floods at peak times are the largest ever built and we needed to develop new manufacturing techniques to make them. The city council deserves worthy congratulations for this visionary flood storage solution using Hydro-Brake technology. The scheme has already attracted worldwide recognition and interest in engineering circles."

(CD)