Hundreds of thousands of pounds look set to be spent on reducing flood risk for some properties in Keswick.

Cumbria County Council’s local committee for Allerdale is due to consider on Wednesday whether to follow its Highways Working Group’s recommendation to support the £288,933 scheme which would improve drainage on Calvert Way and Brundholme Way.

Members could decide to support a request for a contribution of £64,480 from the existing highways road drainage allocation towards the work or suggest a reduced or no contribution which would risk the project not going ahead.

The rest of the cost would be covered by Atkinson Builders, who would also appoint the contractor, and £20,000 of grant-in-aid funding from Defra.

A report to the Highways Working Group earlier this month said: “The contribution will help finance the drainage improvements to the public highway fronting the site where historic flooding occurred prior to the Atkinson Homes development, which has exacerbated the issue.

“The scheme will reduce the flood risk for three properties in Brundholme Gardens which is the lowest point below the new development and where any overland surface flows exceeds to.”

Fifty-five homes were built on Calvert Way in 2017 and the report to the Highways Working Group said that development was due to implement a sustainable drainage solution but ground conditions meant a traditional piped solution had to be fitted.

The county council’s contribution would cover the cost of work in front of that estate to improve the drainage and alleviate the flood risk.

The plans have been supported by county councillors for the area, Keswick Flood Action Group and the Lake District National Park Authority as part of a consultation process.

The scheme will be discussed at a virtual meeting at 12.30pm on Wednesday which will be streamed live and can be accessed on the council’s website.

The committee is also set to look at details of how its budget will be spent over the rest of the 2020/21 period, including contributions for school crossing patrols, money advice, neighbourhood support and the creation of a COVID-19 response fund.