Residents of Portadown are being urged to attend a public information event this Thursday to learn more about a major flood alleviation scheme proposed for the area.

The event will take place at Portadown Town Hall from 4.00 pm to 7.30 pm and will offer locals a chance to view plans, drawings and visualisations of the proposed defences.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said the scheme is designed to tackle decades of recurring flooding, including the severe events of autumn 2023. The £60 million project aims to reduce flood risk from the River Bann and its tributaries through the construction of approximately eight kilometres of flood defences across 21 sites.

The scheme is being designed to protect against a one percent annual exceedance probability flood, with allowances made for the impacts of climate change. Historical flood events in Portadown have been recorded in 1986, 1987, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015 and most recently in 2023, with damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.

Minister Kimmins encouraged residents to meet the project team and learn how the scheme will be delivered. The detailed design phase has been completed and procurement is now underway. Construction is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026 and will be carried out in three phases over six years.

Further details are available on the Department for Infrastructure’s website.