Leeds City Council announces next phase of £76m flood alleviation scheme

The next phase of work on a major project to protect Leeds from the risk of flooding has been confirmed after the contract for it to proceed was signed today (June 26).

Leeds City Council has agreed a contract worth £75.98m with contractor BMMjv, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Mott MacDonald, to carry out the first step of the two-step approach to the next phase of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.

This follows on from planning approval granted earlier this month.

Leader of Leeds City Council, councillor Judith Blake said: “This is a hugely important milestone for Leeds, as it commits us to getting this vital work done and hopefully underlines our commitment to doing everything to can to make our residents and businesses safe from the risk of flooding as soon as possible.

“We look forward to seeing work starting later this year, and we continue to explore every option in order to get the whole scheme completed in full as that is essential for the future of our city and all the communities who remain vulnerable to the risk of flooding.”

The announcement is a milestone as it confirms work will start on site, likely to be before the end of the year, for the range of works along the River Aire including the Kirkstall Corridor and upstream which were hit by the Christmas floods in 2015.

The project, being managed by Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency, will see linear defences provided along the 8-kilometre stretch upstream of Leeds Station.

It will focus on three key areas: Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Kirkstall Abbey and Kirkstall Meadows.

At Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, the defence works include new protective walls, a new higher bridge to improve water flow and two new control structures on the goit which can close when the river levels become too high.

A new structure will be built at Kirkstall Abbey in front of Kirkabbey Sluice Gates which will limit the amount of water during high river levels going down the goit channel. The structure will also be a walkway that could open up new views.

This work will be supported by a flagship Natural Flood Management programme delivered by the Environment Agency.

Landscaping works will also be carried out to benefit the environment and wildlife, and to improve access to amenities. This will include two new bridges, improvements to footpaths and new natural areas.

This first step of work can proceed using the funding already in place from the government, Leeds City Council and other stakeholders. It will offer a one-in-100-years level of protection against the risk of flooding.

Talks are continuing over securing the additional funding needed to complete the £112.1m phase two of the scheme in full.

The £50m phase one of the scheme, featuring moveable weir technology to protect Leeds city centre and downstream to Woodlesford, was completed in 2017.

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