A significant step forward has been taken in the development of a new £16 million flood prevention scheme designed to safeguard Bridge of Allan. Stirling Council has approved the procurement of a contract to design and construct the essential flood defences.

The planned infrastructure will offer protection to 87 properties and 700 metres of road in the face of flooding from the Allan Water. The scheme involves upgrading existing flood defence walls along Allanvale Road, Cornton Road, and Fountain Road, as well as constructing new flood defence bunds at Inverallan Road and the adjacent factory site.

The majority of the funding, £12 million, is being provided by the Scottish Government through its 'Funding of Flood Scheme Protections' programme, with Stirling Council contributing the remaining balance.

Extensive engagement and consultation have been undertaken with the local community and key stakeholders throughout the development of the proposals. This included drop-in sessions and an online survey to gather feedback. While 24 formal objections were initially received, 18 were deemed invalid, and the remaining six were subsequently withdrawn following dialogue. One new objection was received prior to Monday's (28 April) meeting of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee.

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The new flood defence scheme is engineered to provide protection against a flood event with a statistical probability of occurring once every 50 years. Construction is currently scheduled to commence in the summer of 2026 and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.

The existing flood defences in Bridge of Allan, constructed in the 1980s, are now nearing the end of their operational life. Consequently, some elements are in poor condition and no longer offer adequate protection against the increasing frequency and intensity of flood events driven by climate change.

Councillor Jen Preston, Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee, emphasised the importance of the project: "Delivering a new flood protection scheme for Bridge of Allan is a major priority as the existing infrastructure is not fit for purpose, especially with a changing climate and an increase in extreme weather events."

She added: "Monday's decision is a major milestone as it means we can start the process of appointing a specialist contractor to design and build the scheme and also ensures we keep to key project deadlines."

"The significant investment in the new defences will greatly reduce the flooding risks from the Allan Water to residents, businesses and other facilities on both banks of the river," Councillor Preston stated.

She also highlighted the efforts to minimise disruption: "Detailed planning work has gone into the new scheme and we have followed the alignment of the existing infrastructure as much as possible to minimise disruption to local communities."

"We have listened to the views of the local community as the proposals have been developed and further engagement with residents and businesses will take place before construction starts," Councillor Preston concluded.

Detailed information regarding the preferred option, including frequently asked questions, is available on a dedicated website flooding.stirling.gov.uk/.

Final confirmation of the scheme will be sought at a future meeting of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee.