To alleviate the problem the Environment Agency and Halcrow Group developed an upstream on-line storage reservoir scheme. The project includes a 450m long, 6.8m high clay embankment across the valley, with a culvert on the line of the original river channel to carry the controlled outflow. A 150m long concrete-block spillway carries excess flood flows over the embankment. The embankment site has been landscaped to minimise visual impacts and the borrow area has been developed into a large wetland area as a habitat for aquatic flora and fauna.

The key component of the flow control system is a 6.5 tonne, stainless steel Hydro-Brake