Construction Begins on Whitesands Flood Protection Project

Dumfries and Galloway Council has marked the start of construction on the Whitesands Flood Protection Project with a groundbreaking ceremony at Greensands.

The event brought together elected members, council officers and representatives from the project’s delivery partners, including principal contractor McLaughlin & Harvey, programme and project management partners Turner & Townsend, and design consultants Jacobs.

The project is a major investment aimed at reducing flood risk to homes, businesses and key infrastructure in Dumfries town centre. Developed in response to the area’s long history of flooding, the scheme is designed to provide long-term resilience against increasing climate pressures.

Alongside flood protection measures, the project will deliver improvements to the River Nith waterfront, including enhanced public spaces, better connectivity and a more accessible riverside environment for residents, businesses and visitors. The design has been developed to complement the character and historic setting of Dumfries while introducing modern public realm features.

Sustainability is a key element of the scheme, with plans to reduce carbon impacts, reuse materials where possible and enhance biodiversity along the river corridor. The project also supports wider environmental and town centre regeneration objectives.

The overall programme will be delivered in five phases, beginning with work at Greensands. The phased approach has been designed to support safe and efficient construction while helping to minimise disruption. The council said it will continue to engage with local residents, businesses and other stakeholders throughout the project.

Council Leader Stephen Thompson said:

“Marking the start of construction at Greensands is a significant milestone for the Whitesands Project. This scheme represents a major investment in the future of Dumfries, helping to protect homes and businesses while also enhancing the town centre as a place to live, work and visit. We recognise that projects of this scale bring disruption, and we are committed to working closely with our communities as the work progresses.”

Seamus Devlin, Managing Director of McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd, added:

“Being awarded this contract is a real testament to the civil engineering expertise that we’ve built in delivering complex flood protection scheme projects across the UK. We are committed to working with Dumfries and Galloway Council and all local stakeholders to deliver this scheme in a collaborative way ahead of programme.”

Work at Greensands marks the first phase of the Whitesands Flood Protection Project, with further stages planned across the Whitesands area in the coming years.

More information is available from Dumfries and Galloway Council: communications.unit@dumgal.gov.uk