Flood protection infrastructure on the River Lagan has been upgraded with the completion of a £1.35 million project to replace sluice gates at Hilden and Lambeg in Lisburn. The Department for Infrastructure confirmed this week that work finished at Lambeg, concluding the scheme following the completion of works at Hilden last summer.
The new flood control structures—essential for managing river levels during heavy rainfall—aim to protect communities along the River Lagan, particularly in South Belfast. Local building contractor Maurice Flynn and Sons carried out the work, which involved full replacement and refurbishment of the two key structures alongside mechanical and electrical upgrades.
Minister Welcomes Climate Adaptation Investment
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins welcomed the completion, emphasising the project’s role in the department’s climate adaptation strategy:
“Collectively these works represent an investment of £1.35 million. Completion will ensure that these structures continue their critical role in regulating water levels along the River Lagan. This will help to manage flood risk for the people of South Belfast for many years to come.
“I visited the Hilden works last summer and I am pleased that this final part of the flood protection works is now in place. 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 improvements and development. Schemes like this are a tangible way of delivering on that vision.”
Project Timeline and Challenges
The project began in 2024 under previous Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd, who initially announced the refurbishment work in March of that year. Departmental records indicate construction faced delays due to sustained periods of high water levels, which temporarily prevented safe access to the structures.
Completion represents a significant step in Northern Ireland’s flood risk management programme. The “Foundations for a Better Future” framework, established by the Department for Infrastructure, identifies climate adaptation as a core objective, recognising that infrastructure resilience is essential as weather patterns become more extreme.
Questions for Future Flood Management
While the scheme addresses immediate flood risks for South Belfast, broader questions remain about how Northern Ireland will manage increasing climate pressures across its infrastructure network.
- How will the Department for Infrastructure balance investment in new flood defences against the maintenance of existing infrastructure across Northern Ireland?
- What contingency plans exist for communities downstream if extreme rainfall events exceed the capacity of these upgraded control structures?
- How does this project integrate with wider catchment management strategies for the River Lagan, including upstream flood prevention measures?
- Given the construction delays caused by high water levels, what protocols are in place to ensure critical maintenance can be performed during future flood events?
- How will the department measure the effectiveness of these new gates in reducing flood risk for South Belfast properties?
The Department for Infrastructure is developing further flood protection schemes across Northern Ireland, with feasibility studies ongoing for potential projects in Eglinton, Derry city and Downpatrick. Details of these and other capital works are available through the department’s Capital Project Viewer.