Stephenson Street Flood Defence Scheme

Griffiths have been appointed as the Principal Contractor by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to deliver and construct the new Stephenson Street Flood Defence Scheme at Liswerry, Newport.

Homes and businesses in Liswerry are vulnerable to flooding from the River Usk during periods of heavy rainfall and high tides. Leisure amenities and infrastructure such as the A48, Newport International Sports Village, Newport Stadium and Dragon Park are also at risk.

There is an existing flood bund along the River Usk between Stephenson Street and Corporation Road, but this is old and no longer fit for purpose.

Many of the businesses in the industrial estate which runs alongside the river already experience small scale flooding from low points along the riverbank – most notably during Storm Dennis in February 2020.

Without intervention, NRW estimate that a flood could overtop the existing bund and cause significant damage to homes and businesses in the area in the future.

The scheme consists of the works shown below:

• Localised ground raising north of Stephenson Street as well as road raising and landscaping on Stephenson Street
• Raising and improvements to an existing flood embankment along the western boundary of Coronation Park
• Construction of a sheet pile flood wall and embankment
• Construction of 0.7km of flood relief road connecting East Bank Road and Corporation Road, with associated drainage, access points and minor modifications to East Bank Road
• Reinforced concrete flood walls and a short length of flood bund within the Felnex Industrial Estate
• Reinforced concrete flood wall near Pye Corner
• Reinforced concrete flood wall and access track at Nash
• Flood gate to the Corporation Road railway overbridge
• Non-return tidal flap valves and culvert enhancements to the Network Rail embankment
• Enhancements to the Wales Coastal Path and landscaping to Coronation Park

Upon completion, the scheme will reduce flood risk to over 2000 properties, including the industrial estate which is a key contributor to Newport’s employment and economy.

For more information, visit:

Stephenson Street flood scheme – Natural Resources Wales Citizen Space – Citizen Space (cyfoethnaturiol.cymru)