Video shows progress of Leeds flood defence scheme
A video has been released showing the progress of work on Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.
A video has been released showing the progress of work on Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.
The £45million project is one of the largest river flood defence schemes in the country. It will see major construction work along the River Aire in the city centre and Holbeck extending 4.3km between Leeds train station and Thwaite Mills.
Flood risk is increasing throughout the UK and in recent years Leeds city centre has come close to flooding several times. There are no formal flood defences along the River Aire.
The scheme includes the installation of innovative moveable weirs at Crown Point and at Knostrop that can be lowered in flood conditions to reduce river levels and the threat of river flooding. This is the first time that these moveable weirs will have been installed in the UK.
The main construction works started in January 2015 and the project end date is May 2017.
The defences will provide the city centre and over 3,000 homes and 500 businesses with protection against flood events from the River Aire and the Hol Beck. It will also protect 300 acres of development land and open up key regeneration opportunities in the South Bank area. The scheme will also help safeguard 22,000 jobs over the next 10 years and create 150 jobs and apprenticeships to work on the project.​
Initial work on the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme saw defences constructed at Woodlesford during 2014, providing residents with protection against a one in 200 year flood event from the River Aire.​