Brechin beyond the flood

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Brechin River Street Area (BRSA)

📣 What’s happening at the BRSA and what comes next?

The Brechin River Street Area (BRSA) was severely affected by flooding during Storm Babet. Many homes were damaged, and some cannot be safely lived in again. Angus Council has been working with residents, community groups and technical experts to understand what the long term future of the area should be.

People have told us clearly that the ongoing uncertainty is difficult and that they need clarity about what will happen next.

Committee Report 198/26 contains five options which have become clear from previous engagements with the community.

The options are:

These options reflect information already gathered and consider the relationship between the housing needs, flood protection, community wellbeing, land use and the long-term financial security.

The report also asks for flexibility around these options if other ideas come up during the process of the options appraisal. Options 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B describe different areas that could be considered for options 2 and 3 above.

The report outlines a number of different areas where these options could apply. View the maps to see the areas covered by each option.

We will also be displaying information boards at several venues, and hosting sessions where you can speak to council officers about the options. Venues and locations are listed elsewhere on this page.

Your views remain essential to shaping the future of the area.

Residents will continue to be updated through:

👥 Community meetings to share information on the June report.

🌐 This Brechin Beyond the Flood project webpage.

🗣️ Engagement sessions on open space design.

📩 Direct communication with affected households.

What happens next

Over the summer, the council will:

➡️ Work with the District Valuer to estimate the cost of acquiring properties under each option.

➡️ Continue technical work on flood protection designs.

➡️ Engage with residents, community groups and young people on ideas for open space.

➡️ Prepare visual materials to help people understand what each option could look like.

➡️ Bring all evidence together into a full options appraisal.

Options appraisal objectives

These options will be explored and judged against the following objectives, as these are sometimes conflicting, some of them have greater importance than others - we call this weighting - the bigger the weighting, the more significance it has. The objectives and their weightings are:

Community vision, social value and wellbeing (weighting 30%)

Brechin’s long-term vision, place making and long-term community outcomes. Benefits for local people’s quality of life, health and wellbeing. Representation of the views of residents, businesses, including children, young people and vulnerable groups. Consideration of equalities, Fairer Scotland duty and children’s rights.

Flood risk and environmental considerations (weighting 20%)

Drawing from the technical reports and design work this element will consider current and future flood risk. Impact on the environment, including opportunities to improve biodiversity. Contribution to climate adaptation, carbon reduction and long-term resilience and the extent to which it avoids future flood damage.

Financial and economic case (weighting 20%)

Capital and revenue costs, acquisition liabilities (including compensation for compulsory purchase), demolition costs, long‑term financial sustainability, economic appraisal (cost‑benefit analysis, wider economic impacts and avoided future flood damages) and best value for public funds

Deliverability and technical feasibility (weighting 16%)

Engineering feasibility, infrastructure constraints and demolition complexity and technical risk. Funding availability, phasing, timescales, resource requirements and practical constraints (which may also frustrate or delay the basis, and therefore undermine the case for, compulsory purchase). Planning considerations including alignment with the development plan, open space strategy, play sufficiency and consenting requirements

Risk governance and best value (weighting 14%)

Overall value for public funds, considering outcomes, risks and long‑term maintenance and benefits.

More information about the council's appraisal process is included in committee report 338/21.

Brechin River Street Area (BRSA)

📣 What’s happening at the BRSA and what comes next?

The Brechin River Street Area (BRSA) was severely affected by flooding during Storm Babet. Many homes were damaged, and some cannot be safely lived in again. Angus Council has been working with residents, community groups and technical experts to understand what the long term future of the area should be.

People have told us clearly that the ongoing uncertainty is difficult and that they need clarity about what will happen next.

Committee Report 198/26 contains five options which have become clear from previous engagements with the community.

The options are:

These options reflect information already gathered and consider the relationship between the housing needs, flood protection, community wellbeing, land use and the long-term financial security.

The report also asks for flexibility around these options if other ideas come up during the process of the options appraisal. Options 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B describe different areas that could be considered for options 2 and 3 above.

The report outlines a number of different areas where these options could apply. View the maps to see the areas covered by each option.

We will also be displaying information boards at several venues, and hosting sessions where you can speak to council officers about the options. Venues and locations are listed elsewhere on this page.

Your views remain essential to shaping the future of the area.

Residents will continue to be updated through:

👥 Community meetings to share information on the June report.

🌐 This Brechin Beyond the Flood project webpage.

🗣️ Engagement sessions on open space design.

📩 Direct communication with affected households.

What happens next

Over the summer, the council will:

➡️ Work with the District Valuer to estimate the cost of acquiring properties under each option.

➡️ Continue technical work on flood protection designs.

➡️ Engage with residents, community groups and young people on ideas for open space.

➡️ Prepare visual materials to help people understand what each option could look like.

➡️ Bring all evidence together into a full options appraisal.

Options appraisal objectives

These options will be explored and judged against the following objectives, as these are sometimes conflicting, some of them have greater importance than others - we call this weighting - the bigger the weighting, the more significance it has. The objectives and their weightings are:

Community vision, social value and wellbeing (weighting 30%)

Brechin’s long-term vision, place making and long-term community outcomes. Benefits for local people’s quality of life, health and wellbeing. Representation of the views of residents, businesses, including children, young people and vulnerable groups. Consideration of equalities, Fairer Scotland duty and children’s rights.

Flood risk and environmental considerations (weighting 20%)

Drawing from the technical reports and design work this element will consider current and future flood risk. Impact on the environment, including opportunities to improve biodiversity. Contribution to climate adaptation, carbon reduction and long-term resilience and the extent to which it avoids future flood damage.

Financial and economic case (weighting 20%)

Capital and revenue costs, acquisition liabilities (including compensation for compulsory purchase), demolition costs, long‑term financial sustainability, economic appraisal (cost‑benefit analysis, wider economic impacts and avoided future flood damages) and best value for public funds

Deliverability and technical feasibility (weighting 16%)

Engineering feasibility, infrastructure constraints and demolition complexity and technical risk. Funding availability, phasing, timescales, resource requirements and practical constraints (which may also frustrate or delay the basis, and therefore undermine the case for, compulsory purchase). Planning considerations including alignment with the development plan, open space strategy, play sufficiency and consenting requirements

Risk governance and best value (weighting 14%)

Overall value for public funds, considering outcomes, risks and long‑term maintenance and benefits.

More information about the council's appraisal process is included in committee report 338/21.

  • Have your say on the options appraisal

    Take Survey
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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Brechin Flood Defence Options

    Storm Babet brought exceptional rainfall to parts of eastern Scotland between 18 and 21 October 2023. The River South Esk at Brechin witnessed the largest flow on record.

    Brechin's Flood Prevention Scheme, completed in 2016, was overtopped by water and properties behind the defences were badly flooded.

    After Storm Babet, a report on the flood and its impacts was delivered. It contains options that are aimed improving the current standard of protection offered by the defences. Angus Council considered the report and the option to raise the current defence levels by 0.5m was approved by Councillors in June 2025.

    JBA Consulting have been appointed to design the uplift of the defences.

    This project will deliver design options for the appearance of this defence uplift for the community to consider and feedback with any comments.

    There are concept designs for three flood defence areas:

    • The Inch Bund
    • River Street Wall
    • Caravan Park Wall

    The options still require a technical design to be carried out. This means there may be some further development from concept to final design. Compromises may be required to ensure we meet all project requirements, including technical compliance and the project budgets.

    How to get involved

    Take a look at the concept designs for each of the options, then tell us which ones you prefer by completing the survey. The survey closes on 16 January 2026.

    Your feedback matters.

    We will keep you informed of developments.

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