Flood alleviation

Project overview

Hebden Bridge is a picturesque market town in an area of natural beauty, coupled with an industrial legacy of water powered weaving mills, which now have a negative impact on the local economy due to high flood risk. The town is located at the confluence of two rivers in the Calder Valley: the River Calder and Hebden Water. It is a key economic area for the borough, with numerous boutiques, drinking establishments and eateries drawing many tourists to the town.

In recent years businesses and the local community have suffered multiple devastating flood incidents which have severely affected the local economy. This project will reduce the flood risk to 231 commercial properties and move 180 commercial properties to a lower flood risk band, directly safeguarding approximately 700 jobs. In addition, the scheme will better protect 183 residential properties and move 130 to a lower flood risk band and improve the resilience of the A646 road towards Mytholmroyd and the M62.

Last updated Quarter 4 2019/2020

Project overview

Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 1

We contributed £3.8 million Leeds City Region Growth Deal funding towards the £53 million FAS1 project in Leeds, which introduced state-of-the-art moveable weirs at Crown Point and Knostrop. The project, which safeguarded 500 businesses and over 23,000 jobs from flood risk, opened in October 2017 as one of the largest flood alleviation schemes in the country.

In addition to the moveable weirs, the Leeds City Region Growth Deal funding has also helped to fund the merging of the river and canal and up-scaled flood walls and embankments stretching 4.5km.

This is the first time that moveable weirs have been used in the UK for flood alleviation purposes.

Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2

FAS2 is split into two steps. The first step of Phase 2 runs along an 8km stretch upstream of Leeds station and focuses on three key areas – Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Kirkstall Abbey and Kirkstall Meadows. 

We are contributing £3.9 million Leeds City Region Growth Deal funding towards this first step, which has a total project cost of £76 million.

More specifically, our contribution is funding works to Redcote Lane, Milford Place and Armley Mills bridges to improve water flow, in addition to supporting the construction of 0.5km of linear defences, all of which will be complete by March 2021.

Our investment in this project will safeguard 139 businesses and over 3600 jobs from flood risk as well as releasing 9 hectares of land for development.

Last updated in Quarter 4 2019/2020

Project overview

Our £1.7 million Leeds City Region Growth Deal investment into the Growing Resilience Natural Flood Management programme will introduce a range of practical measures to mimic natural flood protection, slowing the flow of water before it reaches urban areas downstream.

Works are planned at multiple locations in the Upper Aire, Colne and Calder river catchments, including sites in the Wessenden Valley (Kirklees), as well as Gorpley Reservoir and Hardcastle Crags (Calderdale). 

In addition to providing long-term benefits for urban centres downstream – including reducing the risk of flooding to more than 1,000 homes and 200 business units – the programme will also increase biodiversity and boost local recreation and tourism schemes. 

The programme is being developed by the White Rose Forest Partnership in close co-ordination with local authorities, the Environment Agency and the Aire and Calder Catchment Partnership. Yorkshire Water, National Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, The Source partnership and the Woodland Trust are all playing leading roles in design and delivery planning. 

Delivery of the works in the Upper Aire catchment are being led by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and the National Trust is the lead agency for the works to the Colne and Calder catchments. Yorkshire Water and the Woodland Trust are all playing key roles in delivery.

Last updated in Quarter 4 2019/2020

Project overview

Our £2.6 million Leeds City Region Growth Deal investment into the Wyke Beck Valley flood alleviation scheme will part-fund works in Killingbeck Meadows, Arthur’s Rein and Halton Moor, in East Leeds.

Our investment, part of a total £4.2 million project, will fund the creation of new embankments and flood storage areas to help reduce the risk of flooding to 60 homes in the Dunhill Estate and make possible the development of 200 homes by 2025 on brownfield sites in East Leeds. 

The project is being led by Leeds City Council.

Last updated Quarter 4 2019/20