PROJECT INFORMATION
All the key facts about
Kintore Flood Study
To develop a comprehensive understanding of the extent and impact of flooding in Kintore, we gathered records of historic flood events from multiple sources.
Kintore has a long history of flooding, largely due to its location near the River Don and several smaller watercourses that flow through and around the town. While the River Don itself is the main river in the area, much of Kintore’s flood risk has been caused by smaller burns backing up during high river flows or during periods of intense rainfall. Four primary flooding hotspots were identified in Kintore, which have experienced property impacts due to either fluvial or surface water flooding:
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Northern Road
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Macallan Road
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Kingsfield Road
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Tumulus Way
Records from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Aberdeenshire Council, and historical archives show that flooding in and around Kintore has been occurring for centuries. The River Don floodplain near the town has been known to fill regularly, sometimes making roads impassable even when homes were not directly affected.
As Kintore has grown, development has largely avoided the lowest‑lying land near the River Don. However, several residential areas are located close to smaller watercourses, where flooding has continued to be a problem during major storm events.
One of the most severe flood events in recent history occurred in early January 2016 during Storm Frank. Exceptional rainfall caused the River Don to reach record levels, and flooding affected many communities in Aberdeenshire, including Kintore. This event highlighted how high river levels can force water back up smaller watercourses, causing flooding away from the main river.
Severe and prolonged rainfall in November 2022 led to another major flood event across northeast Scotland. In Kintore, the River Don, Tuach Burn, and Torry Burn all overtopped their banks. Flooding occurred again along Northern Road, Kingsfield Road and Macallan Road. This event followed a similar pattern to 2016, reinforcing concerns that flooding is becoming more frequent and severe.
Additional flooding has been recorded in and around Kintore in 2000, 2002, 2009, 2020, 2021 and 2023, affecting roads, properties, and public spaces. While not all events caused internal property flooding, many resulted in disruption to travel, access issues, and damage to land and infrastructure.
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Kintore is currently at risk from flooding from rivers, smaller watercourses (burns), and surface water during periods of heavy rainfall. While not all parts of the town are at equal risk, several neighbourhoods are known to experience flooding more frequently than others.
Flooding in Kintore can come from three main sources:
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River Flooding (Fluvial Flood Risk): The River Don is the largest river near Kintore. During severe or prolonged rainfall, water levels can rise high enough to fill the floodplain. Although the railway embankment provides some protection by acting as a barrier, floodwater can still enter the town through several openings across the embankment. As a result, some parts of Kintore remain at risk even though they are not directly next to the River Don.
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Flooding from Smaller Burns: Several smaller burns flow through Kintore, including the Tuach Burn, Torry Burn, Sheriff Burn, and Loch Burn. These watercourses are a source of flood risk for the town. Flooding from these burns can occur when heavy rainfall causes water levels to rise quickly and culverts, bridges, or channels cannot carry the flow, and/or water cannot discharge into the River Don because the river level is already high. This type of flooding often affects residential streets and green spaces and has caused most of the historic property flooding in Kintore.
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Surface Water Flooding: This flooding happens when rainfall runs over streets, gardens, and open ground because drainage systems cannot cope with the volume of water. In Kintore, surface water flooding is generally localised rather than widespread. It can cause ponding on roads, gardens, and low‑lying areas. Often contributes to flooding when combined with river or burn flooding.
Based on current modelling, observations, and recent flood events, the following areas are more vulnerable to flooding:
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Northern Road and Loch Burn area - At risk when floodwater from the River Don passes beneath the railway and backs up along the Loch Burn.
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Kingsfield Road - Affected mainly by flooding from the Tuach Burn, particularly when flood storage areas become full during extreme events.
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Macallan Road and Castle Wynd - Vulnerable to flooding from the Torry Burn and nearby drainage channels during heavy rainfall.
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Tumulus Way - This area can flood more regularly, sometimes cutting off road access even when homes are not directly affected.
Flood mapping
Flood maps have been produced as part of the Flood Protection Study to show where flooding may occur in Kintore, how deep floodwater could be, and which areas are most affected during different rainfall event rarity (frequency).
These maps are an important tool for understanding flood risk across the town. They help identify areas most in need of protection and have been used to inform the development of proposed flood mitigation measures. While the maps provide a detailed picture of flood behaviour, they show potential flooding, not a prediction of exactly what will happen in any specific event.
Flood maps are included as an appendix in the Main Flood Protection Study Report.
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What do we propose to reduce flood risk at Kintore?
As part of the Kintore Flood Study, a wide range of potential ways to reduce flood risk were first identified. These initial ideas included a mix of natural and engineered approaches. The options were then screened to remove those that were clearly unsuitable for the area.
The remaining options were short-listed and assessed in more detail using a range of criteria, including how well they reduce flood risk, their environmental impact, and their cost. This process, called multi-criteria assessment, helps identify the most effective and balanced solutions.
Finally, the economic benefits of each option were compared to their estimated costs to understand their value for money, using a measure called the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). This ensures that any future flood protection scheme delivers the greatest benefit to the community.
Explore the shortlisted options below:
The following documents contain the full long-list of actions:
