Ambitious flood defence plans unveiled to protect hundreds of properties

Proposals to reduce flood risk in the River Aire catchment have been submitted to Leeds City Council and Bradford Council.

The multi-million pound plans, developed by Leeds City Council, Bradford Council and Environment Agency, include a new flood storage area between Horsforth and Rawdon and flood defences at Apperley Bridge.

The proposals are part of a series of measures to reduce flood risk to 1,048 homes and 474 businesses along the River Aire.

The flood storage area makes use of an existing flood plain and will be operated by a control gate system.

It means water can be held when the river levels are high and then released back into the river when it is safe to do so.

The proposals at Apperley Bridge involve built flood defences including flood walls, embankments and a surface water pumping station.

Once completed in full, the scheme will reduce flood risk to a 0.5% probability of occurring in any given year (one in 200 year probability), including an allowance for climate change.

It will protect against a similar event to the Boxing Day floods in December 2015, an event which cost Leeds an estimated £36.8m and the city region over £500m.

A decision on the planning application is expected in spring 2021.

Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council said: “This planning application is an important step in our commitment to building our city’s resilience to climate change and providing Leeds with the level of flood defences it needs.

“If it is approved, it would mean we move closer to expanding our work on the ground which is so vital for the residents and businesses that have already experienced the devastating effects of flooding.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “We are committed to working together with Leeds City Council and other partners to assist with the progression of this flagship flood risk management scheme.

“The scheme will bring benefits to the Bradford district by raising the standard of protection to residential and business property owners of the Apperley Bridge area that have experienced the destructive impacts of flooding on many occasions.”

Phase two of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme is split into two steps and features measures including natural flood management across the River Aire catchment including near Malham, in addition to new defence walls, embankments and a flood storage area.

The work is being split into zones to simultaneously develop detailed designs in some areas and commence construction in others.

Step one of phase two, at a cost of £87m, will reduce the risk of flooding to a 1% probability of occurring in any given year (one in 100 year probability) and will run along an eight km stretch upstream of Leeds station including three key areas – Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Kirkstall Abbey and Kirkstall Meadows.

Construction on this first step began in January 2020, with flood walls being installed in locations along the River Aire corridor between Wellington Bridge and Kirkstall.

Step two of the scheme increases this protection, reducing flood risk to a 0.5% probability of occurring in any given year (one in 200 year probability), including allowance for climate change.

In full, the scheme is due to be complete in winter 2022/23 and will provide a consistent one in 200 year probability of flood protection to the River Aire between Apperley Bridge and Knostrop.