Work is now underway to build two new flood storage basins in Saham Toney near Watton, protecting 34 homes across the village as a result.
Forming part of a wider scheme jointly funded by Norfolk County Council, Anglian Water and central government, the flood storage basins will temporarily hold and then slowly release high flows in local rivers after periods of prolonged rainfall. This will help cut the risk of flooding downstream.
The site in Saham Toney was previously identified by the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance back in 2021 as a priority site to implement flood alleviation measures. Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board will construct the basins.
Councillor James Bensly, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, at Norfolk County Council said: “This scheme is one of largest undertaken by Norfolk County Council. Whilst we can never completely remove the risk of flooding, innovative projects like this show how ambitious we are to reduce the risks as much as possible. It’s a great example of how by working together we can find solutions that also see a wider benefit to our county.”
