The Scottish Government

The scheme includes newly-created upstream flood storage areas or 'washlands' and 10km of flood defences through Wakefield. The washlands create recreational and habitat improvements and reduce the flow downstream, meaning that the new defences could be built on a smaller, less intrusive scale. The brief encouraged use of soft engineering options and innovative design, and the resulting scheme incorporates 'green' erosion protection, use of reinforced earth embankments instead of walls and altered alignments and design solutions to preserve habitat. Environmental enhancements included a floating island for terns, an otter holt, washland shallows, and the planting of native trees.

Great care has been taken to ensure the scheme is sympathetic to the historic environment, even though some historic buildings are directly affected. A lock was raised to flood defence standard and internal improvements were made to a mill building to ensure better protection from flooding. The design aimed to interact aesthetically with existing buildings and structures, and included public art to reflect the heritage of the city.

The contractors were awarded an 'excellent' rating for the project by the Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment Scheme, set up to recognise high environmental quality, sustainability in design and best practice in construction.