Project overview
The Somerset Levels and Moors face major flooding pressures, with nearly a fifth of the county sitting below average tide level. Since work began in 2022, resilience has been boosted across three key sites – West Moor, Curry Moor and Southlake Moor flood storage reservoirs – strengthening an interconnected system that manages floodwater across the whole area.
At West Moor Reservoir, major upgrades include a new connecting pipe between flood storage compartments, new spillways and improved water flow between the moors. These changes help protect Thorney and nearby communities by safely storing up to 8.5 million m³ of floodwater, equivalent to the volume of about 3400 Olympic pools. Completion is currently expected in October 2026.
At Curry Moor Reservoir, works have focused on embankment repairs, a new debris screen and upgrades along a 200 m stretch of the River Tone between Hook Bridge and New Bridge. Due for completion in 2026, these improvements will protect farms, homes and the critical A361 route.
At Southlake Moor Reservoir, teams have strengthened riverbanks along the Rivers Parrett and Sowy and built a new spillway to better manage overflow into and out of the moor.
Extensive environmental protections have run alongside the engineering works. Measures include bat surveys at Burrow Wall, relocating fish across eight watercourses at West Moor, creating a new artificial badger sett at Curry Moor and using detection dogs to survey for water voles. Teams also safeguarded reed canary grass habitats to protect the rare hairy click beetle.
Overall, the programme balances essential flood defence upgrades with careful stewardship of the Somerset Levels’ unique wildlife and landscape.
Key project stats
Our role
WSP Binnies has been undertaking the role of supervisor under the permanent works NEC ECC contracts. The supervision team has undertaken regular site visits and provided an oversight of the works, issuing weekly progress reports and collaborating with project team members to help overcome challenges that arise in the site works and through the contracts.
- Multiple projects and sites, meaning the team had to manage a challenging workload
- Challenges arising on-site
- Busy sites with logistical and time pressures
- Supervision team shared resources and lessons learned
- Constructability reviews and pragmatic approach
- Team collaborated across all teams, ensuring clear, positive communication among the client, contractor, project manager, site staff, Designer, Qualified Civil Engineers (QCE) under the Reservoirs Act 1975 and the wider project team