Mersey Rivers Trust, in partnership with Knowsley, Liverpool, and Sefton Councils, is set to start a landmark £2.1 million environmental initiative to reduce flood risk and restore the natural landscape along the banks of the River Alt.
Backed by funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the River Alt Natural Flood Management (NFM) Project will implement sustainable, nature-based solutions ranging from leaky dams in Huyton to sand dune management at Hightown.
As part of this wider regional effort, £465,000 has been allocated to deliver vital interventions across nine key sites within Knowsley.
Next Phase: Millbrook Millennium Green, Kirkby
Work is set to begin at Millbrook Millennium Green on 23 February 2026. This phase of the project focuses on enhancing the watercourse’s natural ability to manage heavy rainfall while boosting local biodiversity.
To improve the area’s resilience to climate change, specialist contractors will carry out:
- Channel widening: Restoring a more natural flow and increasing the river’s capacity during peak rainfall.
- Floodplain lowering: Creating space for water to spread safely across the landscape during storms, significantly reducing risk to downstream communities.
- Wetland scrapes: Constructing shallow wetland features designed to slow water velocity and provide a thriving habitat for local flora and fauna.
Protecting wildlife
Recognising the ecological sensitivity of the site, the protection of local wildlife will be a priority during the works. Millbrook Millennium Green is a known habitat for the Water Vole, a protected species in the UK.
To ensure their safety, the project is being executed under strict licence by trained ecological contractors. These experts will monitor the site throughout the construction period, which is expected to run until April 2026, to safeguard the animals and their burrows.
While some areas of Millbrook Millennium Green may be temporarily fenced off or inaccessible during the works, the partnership emphasises that these short-term disruptions will lead to long-term environmental gains. Following the engineering phase, the site will be reseeded with native species to restore its natural beauty.
Find out more about Mersey Rivers Trust