Site visit: Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme

Overview

About the scheme
This event will showcase the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme – a major infrastructure project designed to reduce flood risk for communities along the River Kent, following the severe impacts of Storm Desmond in 2015. The scheme combines engineered defences with extensive environmental enhancements. 

Key features of the scheme include new and raised flood walls and embankments through the town, strategic use of glass panels to maintain visual connectivity with the river and a pumping station below ground level in the heart of the town. A central design principle has been integrating flood defences sensitively within Kendal’s historic urban fabric, requiring careful material selection, bespoke detailing and close collaboration with heritage bodies.

Construction has required complex phasing to minimise disruption, maintain river flows and coordinate with utilities and transport networks. Engagement with residents and businesses has been a major component, helping shape design decisions and maintain transparency throughout delivery.

Site visit
The site visit, aimed at early career engineers, will offer an insight into multidisciplinary flood‑risk engineering, stakeholder‑led design, environmental integration and the practical challenges of delivering major infrastructure within a constrained urban environment.

Please note places are limited and you will need to bring your own 6-point PPE (orange hi-vis top and bottoms, steel toe cap boots, hard hat, gloves and glasses).