Preliminary works are due to start on the second phase of the Our City, Our River flood defence scheme, one of the city’s biggest infrastructure projects.
Known as Derby Riverside, this package of works will provide significant flood resilience protection to many properties and highways along the left (east) bank of the Derwent from Causey Bridge to Derwent Bridge.
The initial works will mainly consist of land clearance, making way for a new flood wall, floodgates and a riverside green area that will provide a controlled corridor for flood waters to pass through the city safely.
This will include the demolition of selected buildings, as well as some tree removal. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable where trees would obstruct the flow of water in a flood event, or where roots would be damaged due to the location of the wall.
Derby City Council has worked extensively with its arboriculturalists to keep the number of trees removed to a minimum. While the plans approved by committee give permission for a total of around 205 trees to be removed, this is the worst-case scenario, and the aim is to keep as many as possible. Some will be pollarded where this is a better solution, meaning their top branches will be removed to the trunk, which will encourage regrowth.
Due to the bird nesting season, we will only be removing trees that are essential for this first stage of work, with further work to take place over the winter. Throughout the nesting season, an ecologist will be onsite to check each tree before it is removed.
OCOR includes a scheme to replant more trees in the city than have been lost. Already, 583 new trees have been planted around the city, exceeding the 574 that will have been removed throughout the whole scheme by the time Derby Riverside is completed. A further 971 new trees are proposed for other sites, taking the total for OCOR to well over 1,400.
Councillor Camel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability, said:
As our climate continues to change, river flooding remains a risk to many homes and businesses in the city centre. In just five years we have seen the five highest recorded river levels in the city.
We saw the damage caused by Storm Babet on the left bank of the river, and the need for action is clear. With these works, we will continue to protect properties and future proof our city.
Sisk regional director Robin Metcalf said:
We’re proud to be delivering this important project for Derby and are committed to making a positive local impact. We’ll be employing people from the local area wherever possible and working closely with Derby City Council to ensure our social value commitments align with the Derby Promise. That includes creating opportunities for those who are often furthest from the job market, helping to ensure the benefits of this scheme are felt right across the community.
These works will be carried out by John Sisk & Son on behalf of Derby City Council, who were formally awarded the contract for the scheme in May 2025. The completion of Derby Riverside will then unlock the regeneration potential on the left bank of the river, with opportunities for developing new homes and businesses thanks to enhanced flood resilience.
The Our City, Our River programme is one of the Environment Agency’s largest local authority-led projects and has already delivered enhanced flood protection to over 2000 properties. Derby Riverside will extend this protection to the east bank of the Derwent and unlock the potential for regeneration in this part of the city.