The Environment Agency (EA), in partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, has started construction on a major flood alleviation scheme in Skinningrove, with works due for completion in 2028. The £13mn scheme will deliver a long-term solution to flooding from Skinningrove Beck, protecting more than 100 homes and helping residents who have long faced disruption from the village’s existing flood defences, said the EA.
Currently, the Agency operates manually controlled flood gates and demountable parapets at Stone Row Bridge when high water levels are forecast. Because the beck can rise rapidly and with little warning, these defences must sometimes be operated at very short notice and can remain closed for extended periods – cutting off vehicle access for residents of Zetland Row and Grove Hill.
New bridge being built
The new scheme will remove that uncertainty entirely. Stone Row Bridge, along with its flood gates and parapets, will be demolished and replaced by a new bridge built between New Company Row and Zetland Row, adjacent to the Riverside Building, the village’s former school.
The deck of the new bridge will sit above the height of the existing flood walls, meaning no flood gates will be required. Residents will have uninterrupted 24-hour vehicle access to their homes, regardless of conditions in the beck.
Planning permission was granted by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council in February 2026.
‘Long term solution making a real difference’
Andrew Turner, Flood Risk Operations Manager, from the Environment Agency, said:
“Once complete, this scheme will deliver a genuine step-change in flood protection for the community of Skinningrove. The new bridge will eliminate the need for manual operation of the flood gates altogether, removing the disruption and uncertainty that comes with the current arrangements.
“It will also sit higher above the watercourse than the existing bridge, which means debris carried down the beck during heavy rainfall is far less likely to cause a blockage – one of the factors that can make flooding in the village worse. This is a long-term solution that will make a real difference to people’s lives.”
The construction programme will take place in two phases:
- Work on the new bridge is scheduled to run from September 2026 to late 2027, with piled foundations and abutments installed on both sides of the beck before a crane lifts the new structure into place near the Riverside Building. A temporary access road will be provided for Grove Hill residents during the construction period.
- Demolition of Stone Row Bridge and infilling of the existing flood walls will follow between December 2027 and early 2028.
The compound and storage area for the duration of the works will be on the recreation ground between Mill Lane and the brook. The EA said it recognises the temporary closure of the play park here is disappointing for the community. The play park would be restored with improved equipment once the works are complete.
Artwork
The new bridge will also carry a lasting mark of local identity. Artist Mick Kirkby-Geddes, who designed the celebrated Skinningrove: The Iron Valley sign on the corner of Mill Bank and Mill Lane, has created five original artwork designs for the bridge railings, drawing on themes close to the community: Skinningrove bonfires, local murals and statues, mining and the coast, fisheries, and wildflowers. The public can help choose the final design in an online vote, here: New Bridge Railings Artwork | Engage Environment Agency.
This short video features some members of the project team and local residents explaining the need and benefits of the Skinningrove FAS.
Construction
Construction is being carried out by BAM, which will work to minimise disruption to residents and the surrounding environment throughout the build, said the EA.
Working hours will be limited to 0800–1800 Monday to Friday and 0800–1300 on Saturdays, with no works on Sundays or public holidays. Large deliveries will be scheduled outside school hours, and the team will follow strict environmental plans and noise and vibration limits throughout.
An outline of construction works, plans and traffic measures can be found on the Environment Agency’s Engagement HQ page (link above) under ‘planning documents’.
*This report is based on a press release from the Environment Agency.
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