| Flood management
the scheme also has a strong focus on using the environment and nature to help protect against flooding, in one of the largest and most innovative natural flood management projects seen anywhere in the UK. Stretching from Apperley Bridge to the source of the River Aire at Malham approximately 40 miles upstream from Leeds (64km away), the range of measures includes the planting of around 750,000 trees and soil and land management measures across 1,700 football fields’ worth of land (1240ha) in the upper Aire catchment. Will Barnett, Director of Water, UK & Ireland, AECOM said: “Wetter winters, drier summers and increased rainfall linked to climate change means that many parts of the UK – including Leeds – are at greater risk of flooding over time. The Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme sets a new standard for integrating traditional engineering methods and nature-based solutions at a catchment-wide scale. As technical advisor to Leeds City Council, fostering collaborative partnerships across the wider delivery team has been key to the project’s success. We’re proud to have played our part in the delivery of this critical flood defence project, reducing the risk of flooding to the people, homes and businesses of Leeds for decades to come.” This work, managed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Leeds City Council, White Rose Forest and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, will capture and slow the flow of water down the river and aims to reduce peak flows by up to five per cent, further enhancing the overall effectiveness of the flood scheme and allowing it to adapt to the impacts of climate change through to 2069. The scheme brings additional benefits to the
environment through the creation of vast new areas of habitat for wildlife, improved water quality and farmland as well as restoring previous habitats. The installation of fish and eel passes at the moveable weirs in the city centre have been a contributing factor to otters and salmon being seen in parts of the river for the first time in over 200 years since the completion of phase one, which is a major sign the scheme is already improving the quality, biodiversity and resilience of the river system.
Additionally, a 2.4ha wetland habitat on Kirkstall Meadows has been created, while more than 90,000 further trees and shrubs have been planted throughout the Leeds area of the scheme. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Today, thousands of households and businesses across Leeds can breathe a sigh of relief, safe in the knowledge that their great city is better protected than ever against flooding. I commend the tireless work of the council and its partners to deliver this groundbreaking scheme, to help ensure that we never again have to face the same devastation of the 2015 Boxing Day floods.”
Other benefits A further key economic benefit of the scheme includes
bringing land previously unsuitable for development due to flood risk back into potential use, opening up significant areas of land to support the growth of the city with estimated regeneration benefits of £774million over 10 years and potentially more than 3,000 new jobs. Examples of this can already be seen in the developments around Wellington Street and Holbeck since phase one was completed in 2017. The protection offered by the scheme also offers
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increased resilience for key infrastructure in Leeds including power supplies, communications networks, and key travel routes. These include the railway at Kirkstall, which connects a significant portion of Yorkshire and had previously been at significant flood risk causing regular disruption to rail travel throughout the region.
A focus during construction of the scheme has
been to limit the carbon impact of the works. This has seen the use and recycling of materials across flood defence sites, including the use of nearby clay to form the embankments at the new flood storage area, saving more than 5,000 lorry journeys. “We’re building a greener, more secure West
Yorkshire that’s resilient to the effects of climate change,” added Tracy Brabin. “The confidence this scheme provides is a remarkable step forward in protecting the livelihoods of the people in our region.” A study carried out by the University of Edinburgh
Centre for Carbon Innovation also highlights the value of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, stating that if the scheme is operated at its full potential just once, it will have saved more carbon than it used to build it, based on the carbon impact from the destruction and clean-up caused by Storm Eva. Therefore, the scheme will be making a significant contribution to the council’s net zero ambitions every time it needs to be operated. Multiple funding streams have contributed to the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, including government Grant in Aid funding, local funding from Leeds City Council, over £20million of regional funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and funding from others including: the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, the European Regional Development Fund, Network Rail, The Woodlands Trust and others.
Above: Phase 2 at Kirkstall Abbey
Above: Phase 1 - Knostrop weir
Below: Phase 2 - flood storage area
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