Defence Online

The next stage of a major scheme to help protect Leeds from future flood risk has been given the green light.Members of the city plans panel have now supported a planning application put forward by Leeds City Council, working alongside the Environment Agency, so that work on phase 2 of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme along the River Aire can get underway.Phase two of the Leeds flood defence scheme, covering the Kirkstall Corridor will be delivered in two-steps, as Leeds City Council are taking a pragmatic approach to allow work to get underway as soon as possible. The approval is for the first of two steps which will, when combined, be a £112.1m investment in Phase 2 of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.The first step starting this autumn, will use £65m funding already secured from the Government, alongside additional financial support from Leeds City Council and partners. This will reduce the risk of flooding along an 8km stretch of the River Aire from Leeds city centre through the A65 Kirkstall Road corridor and will provide an initial level of protection against the threat of flooding from the River Aire which equates to a 1 in 100 (1%) chance of flooding in any given year. This is the same standard that Phase 1 of the scheme currently provides to the city downstream of Leeds station.Talks are continuing to secure the remainder of the funding to carry out the second step and complete the scheme in full which, pending further planning approval, would double the standard of protection offered by the whole Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.

Post written by: Andrew Perry