In 2016 Fisher German were instructed to provide strategic property advice to the Allendale Estate in Northumberland. Allendale is a family run, traditional land estate that has been owned by the Beaumont family for over 200 years and comprises of a mixed portfolio of farmland, forestry, residential and commercial assets.

Parts of the Allendale Estate were badly affected by Storm Desmond in December 2015. This involved damage to historic residential and commercial property through the flooding of the River Tyne.

Fisher German were asked by the Estate to look into potential solutions to deliver increased resilience to flooding. With significant experience in flood risk management matters and a long relationship with the Environment Agency to help deliver flood alleviation schemes, we were an obvious choice to provide advice on this complex matter.

It was anticipated that the Estate would need to pay for all works and permissions and any grant funding would only cover property level resilience works such as flood boards, airbrick covers and non-return valves for foul sewer pipes. Such works are often helpful for properties at risk of flooding but in this instance were of very limited benefit and it was preferable to deliver a community wide flood risk management scheme.

Through assessing the impact of the flooding in 2015, utilising our knowledge of flood risk matters and the potential sources of grant funding, a plan has been put in place to deliver a comprehensive scheme to improve the flood protection to 14 residential properties on the Estate. In addition, much of the initial survey works and construction costs will be eligible for grant funding which Fisher German are in the process of applying for.

For further information, please contact Guy Hemus on 01530 410890 or email here