Bolton Council to receive £300k to help flooding risk

Four projects from Bolton, Salford and Greater Manchester Combined Authority are the first to be awarded more than £1.3m through United Utilities’ Green Recovery Programme.

The sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) deliver environmental benefits and improve sewer health by slowing down rainwater runoff and mimicking natural drainage.

By reducing the amount of rainwater entering the sewer network they relieve pressure on the system and play a significant role in helping to reduce the need for releases from storm overflows during times of heavy rainfall.

It could have a huge impact (Image: PA)

Johnny Phillips surface water strategy manager at United Utilities, said: “We’re excited to support these projects, each of which will bring numerous benefits to communities across Greater Manchester by increasing resilience to climate change by building with nature and introducing blue green infrastructure to manage rainfall in a more natural way.

“Rainwater is a resource which all too often just runs down the drain where it enters the sewer system for treatment that it doesn’t need.

“SuDS help make the most of it by creatively managing it on the surface where it can be used to support nature in urban spaces, improve visual amenity, create natural habitats and benefit wildlife.”

The council will receive £296,300 to support two projects to improve drainage in Bolton town centre through the introduction of green spaces and areas which allows rainwater to seep through it, and a second to introduce surface water catchment areas in a residential area that has previously experienced flooding problems during periods of heavy rain.

The projects will be in a new public park between Ashburner Street and Blackhorse Street, and to convert the 15 street trees planned for Blackhorse Street and Paderborn Way into SuDs enabled street trees.

The new park on Ashburner Street is planned for the former Odeon site

The ambitious plan will work in partnership with organisations across the North West to deliver environmental improvements in rivers, protect habitats, combat invasive species, enhance water quality, improve drainage and reduce pollution.

Together, these will increase the volume of sustainable drainage across Greater Manchester by more than 12,500 sq/m – almost the same size as the football pitches at Manchester United’s Old Trafford and Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium added together. 

United Utilities plans to invest a total of £9m in these types of schemes by March 2025 and will be inviting more applications early next year.

Funding has been awarded to the council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Salford Council to support a range of projects designed to reduce local flooding risk by managing some of the North West’s abundant rainfall more effectively.

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