MCLAUGHLIN & Harvey has commenced construction on the £86.6 million Whitesands flood protection project on behalf of Dumfries & Galloway Council.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held to mark to occasion, bringing together a range of project partners – including design consultants Jacobs and programme and project management partners Turner & Townsend.
The Whitesands flood protection scheme is a major infrastructure investment designed to reduce flood risk to homes, businesses, and key infrastructure in Dumfries town centre. The project responds to a long history of flooding in the area and aims to provide long-term resilience in the face of increasing climate pressures.
In addition to flood protection, the project is tipped to deliver significant improvements to the River Nith waterfront. These include enhanced public spaces, improved connectivity, and a more accessible and attractive riverside environment for residents, businesses and visitors.
Sustainability is said to be a key focus of the project, with measures to reduce carbon impact, reuse materials where possible, and enhance biodiversity along the river corridor.
The overall project will be delivered in five phases, with work beginning at Greensands as the first stage.
Dumfries & Galloway Council leader Stephen Thompson said, “Marking the start of construction at Greensands is a significant milestone for the Whitesands Project. This scheme represents a major investment in the future of Dumfries, helping to protect homes and businesses while also enhancing the town centre as a place to live, work and visit. We recognise that projects of this scale bring disruption, and we are committed to working closely with our communities as the work progresses.”
Seamus Devlin, McLaughlin & Harvey MD, added, “Being awarded this contract is a real testament to the civil engineering expertise that we’ve built in delivering complex flood protection scheme projects across the UK. We are committed to working with Dumfries and Galloway Council and all local stakeholders to deliver this scheme in a collaborative way ahead of programme.”
