A new flood defence scheme along the A46 in South Warwickshire could help protect nearly 300 homes from flooding, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

EA has put forward plans around St John's Brook to Warwick District Council, with the scheme hoped to come to fruition in 2026.

Plans put forward to the local authority state there is a "very significant risk of flooding" from the brook at 271 homes in Warwick, particularly around Exham Close and Woodloes Estate.

EA said "significant" flooding had occurred there in 1998, 2007/8 and in 2012.

Currently there are no formal flood defences around St John's Brook.

"The proposed development seeks to reduce the level of fluvial flood risk to the community along St John's Brook, particularly in Woodloes Estate and Exham Close," the plans explained. 

"The proposed development is currently at outline design stage as part of an outline business case."

The defences would be built in 'area 1' aroun dthe A46 (image via planning application)

The defences would be built on farmland north of the A46 at Warwick, spanning two fields bisected by the watercourse.

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The scheme would see a "flood storage embankment" built immediately upstream of dual carriageway with the capacity to store 35,000 cubic metres of water and release it "in a controlled manner" to alleviate flooding downstream.

Natural flood defences will also be installed upstream to "reduce peak flows to further alleviate downstream flood risk and deliver wider environmental benefits".

Plans show the embankment would be 255 metres long.

Construction is hoped to start in spring 2026 and be completed that autumn.

Plants would need to be removed as part of the project, so EA is currently asking the council whether it needs to complete an 'environmental impact assessment' before progressing with the works.

The application comes in the same week that saw the brook burst its banks in St Nicholas Park and cause some minor flooding there.

The A46 also had to be closed for 24 hours around Warwick after water from the surrounding fields flooded onto the carriageway.

See the application here.

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