Edinburgh Council has confirmed that funding has been approved for Phase two of the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme.

The Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme (WoLFPS) will help to protect hundreds of properties in the city that have been prone to flooding in the past.

The first phase of the project, which included defences being installed at Veitches Square, Stockbridge Colonies, Warriston, St Mark's Park and Bonnington, has been completed. For Phase two, the overall costs for the Murrayfield/Roseburn area were estimated to be £25.2m, but the available capital budget for this second phase stood at £20.5m, leaving a shortfall of more than £4m.

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However, Edinburgh Council has said it will fund the shortfall through a realignment and transfer of existing Services for Communities capital budgets. The additional funding means that a formal procurement process can now commence, with flood prevention works beginning in the Roseburn and Murrayfield area in autumn 2015.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: "It's fantastic news that we can now proceed with the next stage of this hugely important project, which will safeguard hundreds of properties from flooding in the future.

"We've been working extremely closely with the community and key stakeholders to make sure they were fully involved in the plans from the outset and with reinforced governance and protocols in place, we're confident that Phase 2 will be delivered efficiently and at best value to the taxpayer."

(JP/CD)