Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Tidal barrier cost rises to £220m as inflation bites
THE projected cost of the Bridgwater tidal barrier has ballooned to nearly a quarter of a billion pounds, the Environment Agency (EA) has revealed.
The EA and Somerset Council have been working to deliver the barrier across the River Parrett between the Express Park in Bridgwater and the neighbouring village of Chilton Trinity – a barrier which will provide protection to more than 11,300 homes and more than 1,500 businesses.
The barrier is in the early stages of construction, with the final business case awaiting its sign-off from the Treasury.
But the cost of this significant infrastructure project has risen rapidly over the last six months in light of high inflation and supply chain issues within the construction industry.
The tidal barrier was one of the major projects identified within the Somerset 20-year flood action plan, which was created in 2014 in response to the catastrophic floods which hit the Somerset Levels and Moors in the winter of 2013/14.
The barrier will have two vertical lift gates which can be closed to prevent water from flowing upstream during very high tides – something which would put Bridgwater and the neighbouring villages at great risk.
New flood defences will also be created downstream of the barrier to prevent flooding and protect numerous species, including eels and fish.
At the time the 20-year flood action plan was approved, it was estimated to cost between £27m and £30m in staffing time alone.
By the time the Treasury approved the outline business case in September 2021, the predicted cost of the barrier was £99m.
This increased further to £128m by the time the initial access road to the construction compound off Saltlands Avenue was completed in June 2023 – a process which had been delayed after asbestos was discovered near the site.
The EA admitted in June 2023 that the cost of the barrier was “bound to increase” with the EA’s Wessex regional flood and coastal committee putting the cost at £249m, blaming “a significant increase in risk allowance, inflation, and design and construction costs”.
Since the summer, the EA has been working to bring the costs of the project down to £220m – still more than twice the amount the Treasury had originally approved.
A spokesman said: “From now we expect to spend £150m on constructing the whole scheme. In addition, in accordance with government guidelines on future inflation allowances, and industry-standard risk strategies, we will allow £70m for risk and contingencies.
“The majority of the funding will be provided by central government mainly through flood defence grant in aid (FDGiA), with approximately ten per cent being provided by partners including Somerset Council (through CIL and the Bridgwater town deal), the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Wessex regional flood and coastal committee, the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) and the Department for Education.”
The Wessex regional flood and coastal committee, which most recently met in Weston-super-Mare on Wednesday – estimates that £35m has already been spent on the barrier project.
The Treasury has yet to sign off on the final business case – but the EA said it was confident this would happen before the end of the year.
A spokesman said: “Our programme allows for the final business case being approved by the autumn of 2024.
“We aim to have an operational barrier in early-2027.”
Rachel Burden, the EA’s Wessex area flood and coastal risk manager, provided a further update when the SRA board met in Bridgwater yesterday.
She said in her written report: “Discussions are well underway at the highest level within the EA, Defra, and the Treasury to ensure any additional funding required is secured to deliver an operational barrier by early-2027.
“The protection to 12,800 properties that this flagship scheme will deliver, along with £2bn of benefits for the local area, mean it remains a hugely positive asset for the town, with the EA expecting to achieve £7.50 of benefits for every £1 spent.”