Kenton Bar Flood Project

In 2024, a new flood alleviation scheme was completed at Kenton Bar. The project cost £800,000 and better protects 57 homes and Kenton Bar Primary School from surface water flooding.

The scheme was designed and built by Newcastle City Council. It was funded through the DEFRA Flood Defence Grant and the Department for Education’s SuDS for Schools programme. The Environment Agency, Kenton High School, and the Smart Academies Trust (on behalf of Kenton Bar Primary) also helped with the project.

Basins have been built on school grounds to intercept and collect rainwater, one of these has been designed like an amphitheatre and is now used as a forest school for outdoor learning. Trees and plants were added to improve the environment and support ecology.

During the project, the team worked closely with the school with lessons about flooding given by the Environment Agency. Pupils from the school also helped our landscape and ecology team with planting and building fences as part of the landscaping phase.

This project supports the goals of the Blue Green Newcastle initiative, which aims to improve local areas while protecting them from flooding. It’s a great example of how flood schemes can also bring social, environmental, and educational benefits.