Comrie Flood Protection Scheme - Current progress and timeline

Latest updates

Main flood scheme construction

The main construction operations to form the flood defences have been progressing well throughout 2025, particularly with the good summer weather.  

Ongoing works

We are now heading towards the end of the programme of piling works. Sheet piling works are being completed around Field of Refuge, before moving to Strowan Road (Fire Station area), St Margaret's Church and then finally back to Strowan Road. The latter work on Strowan Road is to install a below ground seepage cut off which will sit behind the new defences. These piles will remain visible above the ground for a period of time before being cut down to below road level at the end of the piling works. 

We are continuously monitoring noise and vibration throughout the works.  

Concrete works to form the flood walls around the steel sheet pile core are ongoing in various locations, notably the boulevard area and north of Camp Road. You will note areas where there are gaps in the sheet piles/flood walls. These are associated with various underground services that need to be worked carefully around or reinstated, such as surface water drainage outfalls. The necessary construction sequencing has dictated when the walls will be formed in these areas. Work is ongoing along the boulevard currently to bridge the service crossings in this area. 

Some of the most visible work throughout the winter will be carried out along Strowan Road, where erosion protection is being installed along the riverbank. This will protect the new flood defence which will be formed at the top of the bank from the risk of scour during high flows.  The sheet piling within the river channel is a temporary cofferdam, providing a dry working area to construct the bank protection. Upon completion of this and the new defences, the piles will be cut down below the river bed level, with the remaining pile embedded below the ground to provide further protection against river bed scour. 

Site set up

The main site compound is situated located to the south-east of Dalginross on agricultural land (off the South Crieff Road). 

There is a satellite compound situated at the Field of Refuge car park. This will remain in place for the construction period (October 2026). Balfour Beatty have recently reviewed their current requirements and have made part of the car park available for public use again temporarily. They will require to take over the full car park area again in the future as the flood scheme works near this area. We will provide notice in advance of this. 

We recognise that this is a well-used parking area and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.   

Tree - Compensatory Planting

We recognise the impact that the felling of mature trees can have, but unfortunately this is an unavoidable consequence of constructing the important flood defences in Comrie. The design of the scheme has tried to minimise the number of trees being removed, and we will continue to work with the contractor to retain as many trees as is practical to do so. Some of the trees that will be removed are close to the end of their natural lifespan and so would likely have been subject to future removal. 

As part of the scheme, we will replant three trees for every one tree that is felled. This will form part of the wider landscaping and re-instatement work after the defences are constructed. It will not always be possible to replant trees close to where they have been felled, due to the new flood defences, but we would like to maximise compensatory planting within Comrie and Dalginross. Currently we have identified areas within the wider Comrie area which can accommodate, and benefit, from the compensatory planting, however we welcome any feedback regarding potential locations that members of the community may like to see compensatory planting.

Road closures

The Flood Protection works will have an impact on the road network. The latest road closures (active or proposed) are shown below: 

Path closures and diversions

The Flood Protection works will have an impact on the path network in Comrie. The affected routes are stated below and in our Core Path Diversions (PDF, 566 KB).

Construction photographs and drone surveys

Construction progress photos (PDF, 2 MB)

Monthly drone surveys will be flown throughout the construction phase to record and display progress of the project.  The latest surveys can be viewed below.  

Project timeline

Projects of the scale and complexity of the Comrie flood protection scheme will encounter challenges that can slow down progress. The project has experienced some delay for various reasons, and we would like to thank the community for their ongoing patience. 

Balfour Beatty were awarded the contract for the main construction works in August 2024 and commenced on site in September 2024. 

After a period of site clearance and establishment, the main flood defence works commenced in February 2025 with a planned completion in October 2026.  The project currently remains on programme to achieve this. 

View the current timeline (PDF, 539 KB).

Community liaison

The Council is continuing to liaise with residents and landowners directly affected by the flood scheme works. We will continue to meet with affected residents and discuss any questions they may have.  

Balfour Beatty have appointed Ben Ferguson as their Public Liaison Officer for the project. Ben will be in touch with all residents who will have a direct interface with the project, and will provide notice in advance of works taking place at or adjacent to their properties / locations.  

If you have any queries about the construction of the project, you can speak to the Balfour Beatty team on site or by contacting Ben on 07732 079276 or by emailing ComrieAdmin@balfourbeatty.com . 

Community drop-in sessions

The most recent community drop in session was held on Thursday 6 February 2025 at the White Church (2-7pm in the Ruchill Hall).  This was well attended and enabled the community to meet representatives from the Council's project team and the Contractor, and to discuss the scheme and any queries they may have. 

The exhibition materials from these events are available to view on the scheme documents page.  

The Council, and our contractors (Balfour Beatty), will continue to keep the community informed of progress.  We will issue community newsletters regularly throughout the construction phase to keep the community updated, with the next one scheduled for September 2025.  Please find a link to the most recent community newsletter below: 

Current newsletter

• Comrie flood newsletter 14 - September 2025 (PDF, 1 MB)

Previous newsletters

• Comrie flood newsletter 13 - June 2025 (PDF, 1 MB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 12 - March 2025 (PDF, 576 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 11 - December 2024 (PDF, 652 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 10 - September 2024 (PDF, 278 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 9 - May 2023 (PDF, 435 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 8 - April 2022 (PDF, 292 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 7 - September 2021 (PDF, 387 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 6 - February 2020 (PDF, 267 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 5 - November 2019 (PDF, 715 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 4 - April 2019 (PDF, 308 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 3 - January 2019 (PDF, 523 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 2 - June 2018 (PDF, 310 KB)
• Comrie flood newsletter 1 (PDF, 1 MB)

Contact details

If you have any queries relating to the Comrie Flood Protection Scheme please contact Ross Fletcher, Project Manager, or Gavin Bissett, Engineer (Flooding), on 01738 476840 or at ComrieFloodScheme@pkc.gov.uk. 

Correspondence can also be addressed to the Flooding Team, Environment and Infrastructure, Perth and Kinross Council, Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD.