City flood defence work starts
CONSTRUCTION of a new flood defence scheme to protect homes in Cardiff has begun.
The scheme spans 1.5km along the capital’s foreshore, from Tidefields Road to the River Rhymney estuary, and will protect 2,800 homes. The £35m scheme, primarily funded by the Welsh Government, will take around three years to complete.
The scheme aims to protect properties from rising sea levels over the next 100 years, and to provide defence against a onein-200-year severe weather event, allowing for the effects of climate change.
Non-profit news organisation Climate Central previously predicted that by 2050 large parts of Cardiff could be left underwater.
The flood defence plans were initially submitted in 2021, to save large parts of Cardiff from floods.
Initially, it was estimated the work would cost £25m, with the Welsh Government funding 85% of the project, and the council funding the remainder.
Following a request by Cardiff Council for an environmental impact assessment, the plans were submitted in April, and subsequently approved in June.
At the time, Michael Michael, cabinet member for clean streets, recycling and environment, said: “The greatest risk to Cardiff right now is flooding and rising sea levels caused by climate change.”
Works were originally expected to begin in February 2022 and completed by October 2023. An update was provided in December 2022, when the council expected the plans to be given the go-ahead imminently. Nevertheless, the construction work has now begun.
Cabinet minister for climate change, Caro Wild, said: “As a coastal city with three rivers running through it, it is vital we take action now to protect homes, business and key infrastructure from the increased risk of flooding we will face in the future as a result of climate change. Through our One Planet Cardiff strategy we’re playing our part in limiting global temperature rises and doing some really good work to reduce carbon emissions.”
Other measures in the strategy include a new low carbon heat network, a new solar farm at Lamby Way, a network of segregated cycleways, and tens of thousands of trees planted annually.
“The impacts of climate change are happening to the city already and sea levels have already risen, so proactive steps like these flood defences are also essential to ensure Cardiff is resilient enough to cope in years to come,” Cllr Wild added.
The work will see 150,000 tonnes of rock armour protection installed along the coastline to manage erosion and high tides, as well as sheet piling and maintained earth embankments along the river estuary. Improvements will also be made to the condition of the Wales Coast Path, alongside access improvements to the path, within the boundaries of the scheme.