Dumfries & Galloway Council has appointed McLaughlin & Harvey to deliver a £38m flood protection scheme at Whitesands, setting in motion long-awaited works to safeguard the riverside quarter from the River Nith. The project follows years of debate over cost and design and responds to a persistent local problem: the Whitesands area has seen regular inundation—205 incidents recorded over the past two centuries—with climate change expected to intensify both frequency and severity.
McLaughlin & Harvey has been engaged on an early contractor involvement basis to refine buildability, phasing and community impacts ahead of the main construction programme, which is expected to start next summer. The contractor will work alongside Turner & Townsend and Jacobs, who are providing consultancy support across cost, programme and technical design.
The solution combines permanent and demountable elements to balance protection with riverside amenity. New barriers will be installed along a raised walkway on the Nith, using a mix of reinforced walls, high-clarity glass panels and flood gates at key access points. The glass sections are intended to retain river views and daylight while delivering the required defence standard, addressing long-standing concerns that traditional opaque walls would sever the town’s relationship with its waterfront. Flood gates will enable access for pedestrians, vehicles and events in normal conditions, closing rapidly when river levels rise.
Invasive ground investigation works were completed in summer 2024, informing the foundation strategy and helping to de-risk construction in a complex urban setting. With utilities and traffic routes threaded tightly through the area, the early contractor involvement phase is expected to focus on sequencing, temporary works and stakeholder engagement to minimise disruption to local businesses, residents and visitors.
Beyond protecting property and infrastructure, the scheme is designed to unlock confidence for future investment in the town centre. Reduced flood risk can lower insurance premiums, stabilise trading conditions and encourage upgrade decisions that have previously been deferred. The raised walkway and public-realm elements also create an opportunity to improve accessibility and wayfinding along the river corridor, linking the waterfront more clearly with the town’s retail and heritage assets.
Once on site, the programme will likely be paced around river conditions and seasonal constraints, with key activities—including foundation pours, barrier installation and gate commissioning—co-ordinated to avoid peak flood windows where feasible. Commissioning will include integrated testing of gates, drainage interfaces and emergency procedures.
For Dumfries, the project represents a pragmatic compromise forged through extensive consultation: robust, adaptable defences that keep the river in view rather than out of mind. As the main works mobilise next year, the focus will be on delivering reliable protection with the least possible disruption—an investment in resilience that aims to pay back through safer streets, steadier trade and renewed confidence on the banks of the Nith.
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