The Environment Agency has submitted a planning application to South Ribble Borough Council for the next stage of the Preston & South Ribble Flood Risk Management Scheme, focused on Walton‑le‑Dale along the Rivers Ribble and Darwen. Subject to planning permission, construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and complete in 2027. The agency states the completed programme will improve protection for thousands of properties.
Phase two covers repairing and replacing existing assets, increasing crest levels where needed, and building new flood walls and embankments. An enhanced maintenance programme is also planned in Frenchwood on the Preston bank. The intention is to reduce flood risk for homes and businesses in Walton‑le‑Dale.
The agency ran a public consultation earlier in 2025 and has now lodged the application with South Ribble Borough Council. Residents and businesses can view documents on the council’s planning system and register an account to submit comments or receive updates; viewing does not require registration. The application will appear on the council’s website once validated.
After validation, the council will open statutory consultation. In England, local planning authorities must allow at least 21 days for representations from consultees, and South Ribble aims to decide major applications within 13 weeks (8 weeks for minor applications). Larger or sensitive cases may be determined by the Planning Committee, which meets roughly every four weeks and provides for registered public speaking. These requirements are set out in the council’s process and the Development Management Procedure Order 2015.
The timetable sits within a national funding push. The Environment Agency cites a government commitment of £2.65 billion over two years for new flood schemes and the upkeep of existing assets. If permission is granted, the Preston and South Ribble works would move into construction in spring 2026 with completion during 2027, subject to any planning conditions.
Explaining the need for upgrades, the Environment Agency’s flood risk manager Richard Knight pointed to intense rainfall in January 2025 which brought high river levels. While Walton‑le‑Dale flood walls were not overtopped, the event highlighted the case for strengthening defences on the Ribble and Darwen as extreme weather becomes more frequent.
For context, a separate GOV.UK update in May 2024 described the Preston and South Ribble programme as a £54.7 million project delivered for the Environment Agency by contractor VolkerStevin, aimed at better protecting properties along the Ribble and Darwen. Today’s planning submission advances the second phase of that programme.