Flood defence wall case story

Following a BBC news story filmed during the January 2024 floods and the subsequent media interest in the flood defence wall we built, many people have been in touch, expressing interest in what we did and how we did it. They want to know what they need to consider to build a flood wall themselves. With that in mind, I decided to document what we did and the challenges we faced as a helpful guide from the perspective of a non-construction professional. Furthermore, what would we have done differently with the experience we have now? It is something I wish I had before we started, as it would have saved time, money and quite a bit of angst.

My aim with this booklet is to help others decide whether a wall is the right solution for their location or property. If it is, I want to provide guidance on what is needed to complete a significant project to protect your home. For us, I can comfortably say it has been a complete game changer.

We went from holding back water at the exterior walls of the house to having a layer of dry land between the house and the wall. It wasn’t cheap, but I consider it an investment that has added to the value and resale potential to our property. It protects the structure of the house in the long term and makes our lives more manageable during a flood.

As with most projects, there is a lot to consider: from obtaining consents, to design, project management, and the construction of the wall.

I hope this guide proves useful for those with little or no construction experience.

Nick Lupton