More money to be spent on testing flood defences in York

The government has agreed to invest in natural catchments following Storm Christoph

Flooding in York in January 2021
Author: Liam ArrowsmithPublished 1st Apr 2021
Last updated 1st Apr 2021

The government's investing more money into natural flood defence schemes in York, the city council has announced.

Earlier this year, York was hit by more flooding after Storm Christoph brought more than a month's worth a rain in just a few days.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now announced York will be one of 25 local schemes to benefit from an £150 million package.

City of York Council said: "The project will look at Swale, Ure, Nidd and Ouse catchments covering an area over 3000 km2, with plans to undertake modelling and develop flood storage and natural flood management opportunities across the catchment."

Initially, £40,000 will be invested into the project.

That's expected to rise to £4.5 million over the next six years.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of the City of York Council, said: “York is one of the worst affected areas in the UK for flooding, and as such it’s something that residents and communities of York have to regularly endure."

"Since the 2015 Boxing Day floods, it was often said that a catastrophic flood incident would only occur every century, however, recent events and the increasing prevalence of climate change now show that flooding of this scale will occur more frequently."

Work is expected to begin in June 2021.