Historic flood site to get new protection

Work has started this June to construct two new flood storage basins upstream of the village of Saham Toney near Watton. 

The basins are part of a wider scheme, jointly funded by Norfolk County Council, Anglian Water and central government and being constructed by the Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board (IDB), to reduce the risk of flooding in the village. The area was identified by the Norfolk Strategic Flood Alliance (NSFA) in 2021 as a priority site for implementing flood alleviation measures.  

Henry Cator, Chairman of the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance (NSFA) said; "This scheme is a great example of collaboration between NSFA partners, local landowners and the Parish Council. Their invaluable local knowledge helped shape this scheme. We are seeing more and more extremes, with two droughts and two flood periods in the last 5 years in the region, this scheme highlights why improved water storage facilities are so important."  

The flood storage basins work by temporarily holding and slowly releasing high flows in local rivers following prolonged rainfall, thus reducing the risk of flooding downstream. One of the new storage basins is being constructed on land belonging to Panworth Hall Estate in Ashill and will have a finished capacity of 21,000-22,000 metres cubed, which is equivalent to 9 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

34 homes across the village will be better protected as a result of the basins, which will also see wider environmental benefits including an anticipated increase in newt and amphibian populations, as well as better water retention for irrigation in times of drought. 

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." 

Norfolk County Council received 28 reports of flooding to properties in the village after the Christmas 2021 flood event, which saw widespread flooding across the county. The Norfolk County Council Flood and Water team, who designed the project, worked closely with local farmers in the area, Breckland District Council and the Parish of Saham Toney to find areas suitable for water storage. 

Further to this Panworth Hall Estate in Ashill, owned by Sir David Ralli allowed the first basin to be built on land he owned, with the second basin constructed on land owned by the parish council. Through an innovative use of space, the site falls across an existing borrow pit, which has significantly reduced the earthworks required and in turn led to efficiencies in construction costs and carbon emissions. 

Councillor Edward Connolly, local member for Yare and All Saints which includes Saham Toney, said: "The people of Saham Toney have experienced persistent flooding for decades, and I know how devastating the impact is, so I warmly welcome this investment and the additional protection it brings to the village. This project is a great example of how the NSFA can support delivery at a local level using partnership working to understand the issues and the land available for such a scheme." 

In addition to the two basins being created, the project is also investing in rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help reduce the amount of rainwater running off from local housing estates into nearby ditches. 

In a further example of the public sector working collaboratively, early contractor involvement and the full construction programme is being carried out by the Norfolk Rivers IDB, who are expected to complete work this summer.  

Phil Camamile, Clerk to the Norfolk Rivers IDB said "This project demonstrates what can be achieved through strong public sector collaboration and sustainable design. By working with our IDB and using materials sourced directly on-site, the Norfolk Rivers IDB team created a flood storage area that not only helps protect 30 properties at risk in Saham Toney, but also supports biodiversity through the creation of a new wetland environment. By eliminating the need to import construction materials, we have significantly reduced both the overall cost of the project and its carbon footprint. It's a great example of how smart engineering can deliver community resilience, environmental enhancement, and value for public investment." 

Matt Moore, Strategic Flood Partnerships Manager for Anglian Water, said:  "We contributed £100,000 towards the scheme in Saham Toney in response to the significant flood risk faced by the community, as well as the additional threat of surface water entering our foul sewer network. By working in partnership, we're helping to reduce the impact of flooding on the communities we serve, while also lowering the risk of pollutions from combined storm overflow spills and sewer surcharges."