Reducing the risk of flooding in Montrose
What we are doing
Scottish Water has been working with a group of local stakeholders in recent years to investigate and address flooding problems in the Borrowfield area of Montrose.
Flooding has affected several streets in the area – both to the north and south of Newhame Road – over a period of many decades. Scottish Water is responsible for the sewer network across the country; and we have confirmed that a large part of the flooding problem has been caused by a lack of capacity in the local sewers during heavy rainstorms, which are becoming more frequent under the influence of climate change.
Customers in the area have had their streets flooded, with damage to cars and gardens – and ongoing worry during weather conditions when flooding may occur.
At a glance
- Project to address flooding in the Borrowfield area of Montrose
- Construction of a large underground storage tank near the pond in Borrowfield Park
- Further investigation is still required on site to make sure the ground conditions are suitable for these proposals
Investment Proposal
Following extensive survey work, we have now identified an investment proposal which would significantly reduce the risk of sewer flooding in the area, with allowance for the impact of more frequent intense rainstorms.
This would involve the construction of a large underground storage tank near the pond in Borrowfield Park and involve construction over a significant period of time. Additional work would need to be carried out in a number of nearby streets to transfer stormwater to the tank during heavy rainfall.
Construction activity will be required across a significant area. The underground storage tank itself is proposed to be 25 metres wide, 9.5 metres deep and to store up to 3.5 million litres - more than an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Streets that would be affected by work to enable new pipes to be installed include: Newhame Road, Newmanswalls Avenue, Aulton Way, Provost Mitchell Road, Borrowfield Road and Renny Crescent.
The project team is now in the process of making more detailed preparations for construction.
What happens next
- The main construction works are planned to be carried out in 2026 and 2027, however, the fine detail of the programme for construction is yet to be finalised.
- Further communication and engagement with local residents will take place. This will include an information/drop in event which we are planning for around late May/June 25 by which point further detail will be available.
- Whilst the main works will not begin until 2026, enabling works, in the form of the diversions of other utilities (gas, electric & telecoms) will most likely begin in autumn of 2025.
Contact the team
Our team will not have answers to all questions yet, but you can contact us with any initial queries or concerns using the details below – please include the reference ‘Capital/502700’. We are very grateful for the patience and understanding of customers in the area - especially those who have been affected by flooding and have contributed significantly to our work to understand and mitigate flood risk locally. Our project team will be back in touch once we have more detailed information that we can share.
