A £12.6m project to protect homes and businesses in Stoke from flooding has been completed.

Residents and traders who have been affected by the ongoing work at Fowlea Brook, near Liverpool Road, Elenora Street and Shelton Old Road, were thanked by the Environment Agency for their co-operation while it took place.

The Rebecca Street car park was occupied for around 18 months during the project and a road closure was also in place for several months.

But the scheme will now bring a series of benefits to the area, the Environment Agency has said, including reducing future flood risk for 333 properties.

It has also enabled regeneration opportunities for previously developed land in Stoke, guests heard at an opening ceremony on Friday (6 February), with more than 230 new homes in the pipeline.

And more than four miles of river has been "unlocked" for fish migration following the removal of a 1.2m high weir and other improvements.

The scheme includes new flood walls and embankments and a flood gate. Work included repairs and upgrades to more than 500 metres of the channel, but challenges included limited access and confined spaces.

Ian Jones, West Midlands Area Director at the Environment Agency, said: "We would like to put on record our thanks to the community – we couldn't have done what we have done without their support.

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"It's never simple doing work like this and it's also not simple doing work like this in such a constrained location.

"We're really pleased with the outcome, hopefully everyone else is as well. The scheme is more than just bricks, mortar and concrete – it is a real direct investment in the community. The community has already seen £15m of investment and we're really proud to be a part of that."

A plaque to commemorate the opening was unveiled at the brook section off Elenora Street, by representatives from the Environment Agency, engineering company Arup, Jackson Civil Engineering and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Guests were then given a guided tour of the scheme.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for regeneration, transport and infrastructure, said: "The completion of the Fowlea Brook Flood Defence Scheme is a significant milestone for our city.

"This project will provide long-term protection for hones, businesses, key infrastructure and any potential development on the surrounding brownfield land, helping to reduce the risk of flooding and giving residents, business owners and investors greater peace of mind.

"The project will help bring underused, former industrial and commercial land back into productive use, reinforcing our commitment to regenerating brownfield sites first wherever possible.

"We're grateful to the Environment Agency for delivering this important scheme and for their commitment to protecting our communities from the impacts of extreme weather and climate change."