A PROJECT costing £80million is being designed to protect 2,500 homes in South Gloucestershire from the possibility of rare but serious flooding.

South Gloucestershire and Bristol City Councils have joined together with the Environment Agency to create new and heightened defences along a 17km stretch of the Severn Estuary shoreline.

They are urging residents and businesses to give their feedback on various elements of the proposed design, which will be incorporated into a formal planning application in autumn 2017.

Construction is set to take place in stages from 2018/19, should the plans be approved.

Cllr Matthew Riddle, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said that the scheme is necessary to protect homes and businesses over the next 60 years.

“The changing climate presents risks that we must adapt to," he said.

"We believe this work will give us the protection we need for the future.

He added: "We appreciate there will be some inevitable disruption while construction takes place.

"We will of course do our best to minimise this by working in stages, and are asking for input from residents and businesses now so that as far as possible we can take account of communities’ needs."

The new scheme is designed to protect an area from the River Avon and Avonmouth Docks to Aust Cliff, near the original Severn Crossing (M48), including Avonmouth and Severnside, for at least 60 years.

A key objective of the project is supporting the growth of the ASEA - one of six strategically important employment areas in the West of England - which has the capacity to see 12,000 new jobs created by 2026.

According to the council, some businesses are discouraged from investing in the Enterprise Area because of the current risk of flooding and the cost of raising their buildings to protect themselves.

It is believed that by improving flood defences, developers will be more likely to invest in the area and generate jobs.

The Severn Estuary is also an important ecological area, particularly for local and visiting birds.

In recognition of this, the project will deliver at least 80 hectares of new habitat around Hallen Marsh and Northwick to replace or expand any that is lost or disturbed by the development.

Nick Gupta, of the Environment Agency, said: “By pooling resources and working in collaboration we can build improved flood defences to better protect more than 2,500 homes and many businesses for decades to come at the same time as protecting biodiversity and the environment.”

To find out more about the project and read the full details of the project proposals and FAQs, go online at http://sites.southglos.gov.uk/insouthglos/enterprise/avonmouth/flood-ecology.

Public engagement events will also take place in the affected area.

See below for details:

Tuesday, July 4

4-8pm Avonmouth Community Centre (257 Avonmouth Road, BS11 9EN)

Tuesday, July 18

5:30-8pm Severn Beach Primary School (Ableton Lane, BS35 4PP)