Phase two of the Preston & South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme has reached a key checkpoint, with the Environment Agency submitting a planning application for works focused on Walton‑le‑Dale and neighbouring communities. The scheme is designed to reduce flood risk for thousands of properties once fully delivered.

Subject to approval by South Ribble Borough Council, construction would begin in spring 2026 and run through 2027. The plan sets out a mix of upgrades along the Rivers Ribble and Darwen: improving and locally raising existing barriers, building new flood walls, and forming new embankments. A strengthened maintenance programme is also proposed for Frenchwood.

January 2025’s intense rainfall put local defences under pressure. While walls in Walton‑le‑Dale were not overtopped, the Environment Agency says recent extremes underline the need to bolster protection on both rivers. Met Office reporting points to wetter winters and heavier downpours across North West England, making adaptation a practical necessity rather than a distant ambition.

This phase has been shaped by a public consultation held earlier in 2025, with feedback informing the final submission now available to view and comment on via South Ribble Borough Council. For residents and businesses, this is the moment to check drawings, ask how access will be managed during works, and flag any site‑specific issues such as drainage or deliveries.

Funding is part of what the Environment Agency describes as a record £2.65 billion programme over two years for new schemes and the upkeep of those already in place. Investment in maintenance is decisive: well‑timed inspections, vegetation management, and prompt repairs can keep protection levels high between major upgrades and reduce lifetime costs.

Beyond concrete and clay, the project’s success will hinge on how it fits the river corridor. Design choices on wall finishes, bank planting and wildlife access can soften hard infrastructure and support biodiversity. Local groups will be looking for plans that retain trees where possible, use low‑carbon materials, and keep towpaths usable during and after construction.

For people living or working near the Ribble or Darwen, small steps now make a difference. Sign up for free Environment Agency flood warnings, review your business continuity plan, store critical documents digitally, and consider property‑level resilience such as flood doors or non‑return valves. Speak to your insurer early if your premises are within the mapped floodplain.

Clear milestones help keep projects honest. Residents should expect regular updates on costs, timelines and any traffic or access changes once contractors are appointed. It’s also reasonable to ask for information on the scheme’s carbon footprint and how spoil, deliveries and site compounds will be managed to minimise disruption.

The north‑west has long experience with rapid river rises after heavy rain. UK climate projections indicate that short‑duration, high‑intensity rainfall is becoming more likely as the planet warms, according to the Met Office and UKCP. Local schemes like Preston and South Ribble translate that science into practical protection at street level.

If planning permission is granted, the next year will be about mobilisation, with visible works starting in 2026 and completion targeted for 2027. For Walton‑le‑Dale, Frenchwood and the wider area, this is a steady, solutions‑led upgrade-one built around the everyday needs of homes, high streets and riverside paths as much as the headline defences.