Call for Government funds to progress ready made Calderdale flood defence schemes

Working with partner councils and the Environment Agency, the Combined Authority has developed 30 flood risk management schemes and a comprehensive £15million natural flood management programme to protect towns and communities vulnerable to flooding in the Leeds City Region.

The Combined Authority is calling for £120 million of Government investment to support the delivery of these initiatives over the next six years, which will safeguard approximately 3,400 homes, 2,500 businesses and 4,600 existing jobs.

Two Calderdale schemes are among the projects look for approval.

Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme, Phase 1 (fluvial): will better protect transport links and key diversionary routes relating to the M62 and accelerate future developments, including Clifton Business Park Enterprise Zone.

Calderdale Reservoir Storage: 180 existing businesses would be protected by the scheme, which involves storage capacity for future flooding events, potentially delivered in partnership with Yorkshire Water.

Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council, said: “We know from our own experiences and from events across the UK that flooding which was once considered exceptional is happening more frequently and severely. We need to accelerate our ongoing flood resilience work to protect our local communities against future extreme weather events.

“We are asking Government for funding to support the infrastructure the region needs to tackle climate change and support our economic recovery in a way that improves standards of living for all our communities, and safeguards homes, businesses, and jobs.

“We have identified four ‘shovel ready’ flood management projects that could commence as early as December 2022, if £21.6 million of Government funding was secured, and would create rapid and positive change to our local communities.”

The Combined Authority is also calling for a single joined-up discussion with all partners involved in flood resilience at a Yorkshire level including representatives of Government, MPs, council leaders, the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water and the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. 

Since the 2015 floods, the Combined Authority has invested £20 million from the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, alongside over £170 million of partner funding, into flood alleviation schemes across the region. Today, over £17 million has been awarded to 8 projects with a total value of £195 million, including Skipton, Mytholmroyd and Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) 1, alongside the Wyke Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme, and natural flood management projects in the Colne, Calder and Upper Aire catchment areas.