Falkirk’s elected members agreed the progress and required next steps to deliver on the Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme, the largest project of its kind in Scotland. 

A report to the Council’s Executive on 28 November 2023 provided an update on key issues facing the project, while highlighting future potential decisions. 

In the paper, Council officers outlined the difficulties faced by the team tasked with delivering the large scale complex project – particularly around funding models. 

Councillors also heard of the need for prompt and frank engagement with the Scottish Government on how to bridge the funding gap for the vital Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme, which is expected to protect 5,800 people, 2,650 residential properties, 330 businesses and 6km of the road network. The scheme will protect communities in Grangemouth, Wholeflats, Langlees, Carron, Carronshore and Stirling Road in Camelon. 

The current cost is estimated to be between £450 million and £672 million. 

Current estimates have been revised following detailed site investigations, progress in the design phase and updated land strategies. 

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said: "The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme aims to provide reassurance to residents, businesses and industry in many of the areas that could be affected by flooding in the future. It’s Scotland’s largest flood prevention programme and we are committed to engaging more with Scottish Government to ensure its eventual delivery.” 

Why is it important? 

Flood risk management is an important element of the Council’s approach to building resilience in local communities, and a means of mitigating the effects of climate change. 

In 2015, the Scottish Government ranked Grangemouth as the highest priority flood protection scheme in Scotland, and it remains the largest and most significant scheme in terms of flooding impacts from rivers and Forth Estuary, residential communities and local industry in and around Grangemouth. 

It was agreed a further report will come to the Council’s Executive early in 2024 seeking authorisation to either commence to the project’s next stage, or to change the scope of the project.

The next stage of the project, if approved, will be formal notification to all affected residential and commercial landowners.