A new flood defence scheme along the A46 in South Warwickshire has been handed a planning boost.

The Environment Agency (EA) said the project could protect nearly 300 homes, with the scheme hoped to come to fruition in 2026.

EA has put forward plans around St John's Brook where it says there is a "very significant risk of flooding", particularly around Exham Close and Woodloes Estate.

"Significant" flooding had reportedly occurred there in 1998, 2007/8 and in 2012 and there remains no formal flood defences.

As the project gets underway, EA had asked to Warwick District Council (WDC) whether it needed to complete an 'environmental impact assessment' before moving forward.

WDC has now said the report is not needed, and the scheme can move to its next stage - a full planning application.

"Whilst it is accepted that the proposal may give rise to some environmental impacts which would need to be assessed as part of the planning application process, it is not considered that these impacts would be so significant having regard to the criteria within the Regulations to require an Environmental Statement," a council report said.

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

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It added: "Whilst it is recognised that the works will be of a scale which will require significant importation of soil and the creation of a dam structure which will result in changes to the topography of the area. 

"The proposal will also use natural resources with the important of soils and works around the existing watercourse.

"The site contains a number of constraints in relation to heritage, ecology (including riparian habitats), an existing watercourse and parkland landscape.

"However, once completed the likely impact of the development will be localised with habitats and mitigation possible to be secured through the planning application process."

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

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.

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"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."

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

See the application here.