Although the planning application for the project has still to be approved and a flood prevention order (FPO) has yet to be made, Moray Council's flood alleviation sub-committee have sanctioned an immediate start on detailed design.

Councillors were told that it would save several months and clear the way for construction work to get under way late next year provided there are no insurmountable objections to the FPO and planning application.

The manager of the Elgin scheme, Barbara Hellett, said experience had shown that it was possible to begin work within a year of the submission of the FPO and planning application.

The FPO for the Elgin scheme is due to be submitted later this month and the planning application next month.

Mrs Hellett said that to commence work on the ground within 12 months, an immediate start needed to be made on detailed design.

Achieving a start within a year also assumed there would be no requirement for a public local inquiry in the event of outstanding objections.

Mrs Hellett acknowledged that with such a large scheme affecting so many different interests, it was not a safe assumption.

However, she continued: "Considering the council's commitment to provide effective flood alleviation as soon as possible, it is proposed that planning for the next stage of the development should include an immediate start on detailed design.

"This may mean repeating some design activities or the council committing to abortive design activities.

"The alternative would be to wait until the end of the FPO and planning application objection periods in January 2008 before assessing the likely implications of objections and deciding whether or not to commence detailed design at that time."

Elgin suffered devastating flooding in July 1997 and again in November 2002.