Delight as Pallion flood protection scheme gets go-ahead

A project to protect 97 homes in the Pallion area of the city has been given the go-ahead with work set to begin in December 2023.

Plans were officially approved by Sunderland Council’s cabinet today (7th September) and could take up to 46 weeks to complete.

The project will see a new network of new drainage pipelines, gullies and manhole covers installed on roads in the Pallion terraces that have been previously suffered from flooding affecting local homes and businesses – including in July 2019.

Properties to the west of Pallion shopping terrace and between St Luke’s Road and Fordfield Road will benefit – including low-lying areas like Garfield Street and Sheridan Street which are several metres lower than the surrounding main roads.

Midmoor Road and Exeter, Mortimer, Oxford, Stratfield and Edwin Streets in Pallion will also get new drainage infrastructure.

The investment will be paid for in full by the Environment Agency. 39 homes at Caroline Street and 46 properties at Deptford Terrace will also benefit from similar flood alleviation schemes.

Commenting, Lib Dem councillor for Pallion Martin Haswell said: “It is fantastic news that Sunderland Council is finally signing off the scheme to use this funding to protect homes in the Pallion terraces from repeated flooding.

“Local people have suffered from flooding and the risk of flooding for far too long. The prospect of new drainage systems and gullies will give people in Pallion peace of mind that their homes shouldn’t flood again when we get heavy downpours. I’m urging Sunderland Council to get this cash spent and the project started as quickly as possible.”