Homes and businesses will be better protected from the elements through the building of new flood protections along 10km of the White Cart river.

The £50 million defences will reduce the risk of flooding to approximately 1750 homes and businesses in the area.

The project, backed by an 80 per cent grant of £40 million from the Scottish Executive, will help prevent damage from flooding to commercial and residential properties.

Announcing the funding package during a visit to the Cathcart area of Glasgow Rhona Brankin, the deputy environment minister, said:

“In recent weeks we have again witnessed the misery and suffering that flooding can cause.

“We are determined to help local authorities, such as Glasgow, protect vulnerable areas from flooding and this scheme will give a high standard of protection to homes and businesses along the White Cart river.

“I am particularly pleased that Glasgow City Council has adopted a holistic catchment approach in providing a sustainable solution to flooding. It will enhance bio-diversity and increase access to the river throughout the south side of Glasgow with the minimum visual impact for local residents.”

Councillor Archie Graham, Glasgow City Council's representative for Langside, said:

“For the thousands of people and businesses on the banks of the White Cart Water, every winter brings with it the fear of flooding and damage to their properties. I know that today's announcement will be welcomed by everyone.

“This is an ambitious project and the news that all the money is now in place to ensure that it is implemented will be a great relief to residents of the south side of Glasgow. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of both East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils who have been key to its delivery.

“There have been more than 20 serious floods along the White Cart in the last century, many of these caused by relatively minor storms. We hope that once the new flood protections are in place they will help to ensure any heavy rains will not cause havoc for those living on or near the river.”

The White Cart Flood Prevention Scheme was confirmed, under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961, by Scottish Ministers in May 2006.  Construction of confirmed Schemes meeting certain criteria attracts 80% grant funding from the Executive.

Glasgow City Council is constructing this Scheme to protect over 1750 homes and businesses in Glasgow which have a history of flooding from the White Cart. 

The scheme provides for the construction of three flood water storage sites at Blackhouse, Kirkland Bridge and Kittoch Bridge to temporarily store flood flows with nine hectares of permanent wetlands created, together with approximately eight kilometres of low wall construction along the banks of the river within the city.  It will reduce the present risk of flooding to less than 0.5% annual risk taking into account the impacts of climate change over the life of the scheme.