Green Light for Major Sewer Flooding Investment in East Renfrewshire

07 April 2022
We're gearing up to begin a £3 million project to address internal sewer flooding in Giffnock, Glasgow this summer.

The work will see an underground storage tank installed beneath the grassed open space on the south side of Braidholm Road next to its junction with Whitton Drive and Graffham Avenue. 
View of Graffham Avenue in Giffnock

Graffham Avenue

A storm storage tank is being installed beneath the grassed open space at the junction of Braidholm Road with Whitton Drive and Graffham Avenue.

“Scottish Water is significantly increasing its investment to upgrade and improve our infrastructure to deliver a world-class service that is resilient and well-placed to cope with the impact of climate change.”

Georgina Reid 
Corporate Affairs Manager, West Region
The new tank will alleviate pressure on the existing waste water network during extreme weather events, providing capacity for extra stormwater storage. The water will then be pumped back into the network when capacity allows.

Following significant consultation with local residents and community groups throughout 2021, Scottish Water listened to concerns and made substantial changes to the original plans. 

These changes included removing the need to take down several trees and producing a detailed reinstatement plan for the space.

We will liaise with the local primary school in advance as the works are close to a school route and will continue to engage with the community once the work begins on site.
 
A drop-in community information event is being planned for mid-May when the project team will be in attendance to answer any questions the community may have.

Georgina Reid, Corporate Affairs manager in the west, said: “We recognise that internal flooding can be distressing and devastating for our customers, and delivering solutions for this is a priority for Scottish Water.

“This is a major project that will make a real difference to our customers who have experienced the misery and distress sewer flooding can cause.

“We appreciate that this work may cause disruption and inconvenience and we are committed to working with the community to minimise this as far as possible.

“With increasing extreme weather events caused by climate change, associated flooding events are on the rise.

“Scottish Water is significantly increasing its investment to upgrade and improve our infrastructure to deliver a world-class service that is resilient and well-placed to cope with the impact of climate change.”

Proposals to establish the site compound adjacent to the car park of Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians (GHA) rugby club will shortly be submitted to East Renfrewshire Council.

Temporary traffic management plans are being agreed in liaison with East Renfrewshire and Glasgow City councils, and it is hoped the work will begin during the summer holidays. 

The project is being led by our in-house delivery team, with our main contractors George Leslie Ltd and is expected to take around 12 months to complete.