Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme

Portadown was identified as an Area of Potential Significant Flood Risk (APSFR) under the Northern Ireland Flood Risk Assessment. Portadown has been impacted by historical flooding on a regular basis over the last 30-40 years with significant flood events recorded during 1986, 1987, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015/16 and 2023. The frequency and extent of flooding is predicted to increase with the effects of climate change.

The Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) is a strategic project led by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Rivers in Northern Ireland. Its primary goal is to reduce the impact of fluvial flooding from the River Bann and its tributaries, particularly the Corcrain and Annagh Rivers, on residential and commercial properties in Portadown. The main objective is to reduce the impact of any potential fluvial flooding up to and including a 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) flood, with allowances for climate change as per current departmental guidance (20%).

Portadown FAS consists of c.8km of flood defences on 21 sites around Portadown.

The proposals include various piled flood defences (steel sheet, HZM, secant), concrete L walls, embankments, flood gates, demountable barriers, concrete culverts, headwalls, tie-ins to existing infrastructure, flap valves and property-level flood resilience measures.

Additionally, the proposals will require temporary works design/management, drainage, reinstatement, elements of contractor design, environmental management and ecological surveys, adherence to the Environmental Impact Assessment and REAC, site clearance, landscaping, accommodation works, service diversion/alteration/protection, stakeholder and landowner engagement, health and safety management, community involvement and social value activities.

It is proposed to phase the construction stage of Portadown FAS into 3 phases of approximately 2 years per phase. The intention is to invite Economic Operators to apply in an NEC Participation Stage process. Following this, a specified number of participants will be invited to tender for Phase 1 which will be awarded to one Economic Operator. All shortlisted Economic Operators successful at Tender Stage will be awarded onto a Framework for the duration of the construction phases and invited to tender for subsequent phases 2 & 3. Assessment will be based on price, quality and social value.

Details of Phase 1 sites and draft Tender Stage documentation will be notified at Participation Stage. Subsequent Phase details will be notified to the Contractors awarded onto the Framework at Tender stage for Phase 2 and Phase 3.