Progress on the Portadown Flood Alleviation Scheme is continuing, with advance works to relocate NIE services starting on Monday 19 October 2026.

The activities will take place in People's Park, Portadown, and include service diversion works to support Phase 1 of the project.

Valued at £60m, the scheme is designed to provide enhanced protection for over 380 homes and businesses across 21 locations in the Portadown area, addressing the increasing risk of river flooding linked to climate change.

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The Department has taken expert advice into account and introduced design changes to minimise the extent of service relocation and diversionary works required.

Engagement with stakeholders is ongoing to ensure the timing of service relocation causes the least possible disruption and is convenient for all parties.

Significant floods have been recorded in 1986, 1987, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015/16 and 2023, with frequency and severity expected to increase due to climate change. The proposed scheme is being designed to protect against a '1% Annual Exceedance Probability flood' with an allowance for climate change. This is a flood which is calculated to have a 1% chance of occurring in any given year and is known as the design flood event.