Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme

This report presents the Phase 1 of a flood alleviation scheme (FAS) extending from the Railway Station in Leeds city centre downstream to Woodlesford on the River Aire. This includes Hol Beck, a minor right bank tributary that enters the River Aire just downstream of the station. There are approximately 3,000 residential properties and 500 businesses located in the floodplain within the study area.This is a Complex Change Project Appraisal Report (PAR). The scheme is being delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency, the Canal and River Trust and Yorkshire Water Services Limited. This study area is central to economic regeneration and job creation plans for the Leeds City Region as a whole and flood risk is currently a significant deterrent to sustainable development. Subsequent phases will, subject to funding availability, address flooding issues in the city upstream of Leeds station. The scheme comprises raising defences, replacing two weirs and re-grading/ merging the River Aire with the Knostrop Cut to maximise the reduction in flood levels that is achievable. The scheme also includes the provision of flood defences to mitigate these downstream impacts on sensitive receptors at the Thwaites Mill museum (0.14m increase in water levels) and at Woodlesford (0.05m increase), where there are 101 properties already at significant risk of flooding. The optimised Standard of Protection is 1 in 75 (1.33% AEP) years and this standard will be sustained over the scheme’s lifetime taking into account latest climate change predictions.