Belfast tidal flood defences put through their paces in major emergency training exercise

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins attends a training exercise on the banks of the River Lagan, as Department staff test temporary flood defenses which are part of the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme.  

Over 1,500 metres of temporary flood barriers tested to prepare city for tidal surge events

A major training operation to test Belfast’s flood defence readiness in the event of a tidal surge has been overseen by Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins.

The large-scale exercise, which saw the installation and subsequent removal of approximately 1,500 metres of temporary flood barriers, forms part of the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme—a £33 million infrastructure project designed to protect the city’s most vulnerable areas.

The barriers were deployed across 80 key locations along the River Lagan, from Stranmillis to Belfast Harbour, simulating the city’s response to a significant tidal event.

It is estimated that over 2 square kilometres of Belfast could be affected by tidal flooding, including residential neighbourhoods, sections of the commercial city centre, and vital infrastructure.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins attends a training exercise on the banks of the River Lagan, as Department staff test temporary flood defenses which are part of the Belfast Tidal Flood Alleviation Scheme.  

Speaking from the site of the exercise, Minister Kimmins said:

“The completed Belfast Tidal Scheme ultimately provides enhanced protection for over 3,000 homes and businesses in Belfast from tidal flooding with flood defences constructed along approximately 8.5km of the River Lagan from Stranmillis Weir to Belfast Harbour.”

She explained the strategic necessity of incorporating temporary flood barriers into the design due to the complexities of building a permanent flood wall throughout a functioning city.

“Building a Scheme of this size through a busy city meant that careful steps had to be taken during the design and construction phases to maintain daily access for pedestrians and vehicles,” she said.

“It was not possible to build a continuous permanent flood wall so temporary barriers were integrated at certain locations which can be installed when a significant tidal surge is forecast.”

The training marks the first time that all temporary flood protection measures have been deployed simultaneously.

“Whilst individual sections were successfully installed during Storm Ashley in Autumn 2024, this will be the first deployment of all the integrated temporary measures at one time, so I wanted to see the full extent of the operational activity necessary,” Minister Kimmins noted.

“The learning identified from this exercise will inform and strengthen our flood response to further enhance tidal flood protection for homes and businesses in Belfast.”

The Department for Infrastructure has coordinated with multi-agency partners to carefully plan the exercise and limit public inconvenience. Although no road closures were required, there have been short-term disruptions to some footpaths, with advisory signage in place along the towpath and other locations.

Thanking the public for their cooperation, Minister Kimmins also emphasised the broader importance of the scheme in the context of climate adaptation:

“Adapting to climate is one of my Department’s seven Foundations for a Better Future. While we cannot prevent all flooding from happening, we can reduce the impacts with appropriate infrastructure investment.

“The completion of this £33m scheme, which helps avoid almost £180m of flood damage, and the practising of our operational response provides a major boost for over 3,000 homes and businesses, not only today, but also for future generations as we continue to bolster our defences to help protect against tidal flooding and promote long term resilience.”

Members of the public can find more information, including exercise locations and scheduling details, by visiting the Belfast Tidal FAS Training Exercise.