The Environment Agency is holding two public events this month to set out its proposals for the second phase of the £122 million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.
Stakeholders will have the opportunity to look at the plans and talk to members of the project team responsible for developing the second phase of the flood defences being proposed to protect communities upstream of the city centre.
The Agency has worked alongside Leeds City Council to submit a planning application which will invest £112.1 million in flood prevention measures along the River Aire catchment.
A range of measures have been put forward to reduce the risk of flooding along a 14-kilometre stretch, including the A65 Kirkstall Corridor which was badly hit by the impact of Storm Eva at Christmas 2015 and ending at Apperley Bridge, Bradford.
In addition to this a natural flood management programme is proposed across the catchment, with pilot projects already underway.
The plans feature measures such as new defence walls, embankments and a large flood storage area. They include four key areas of Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Kirkstall Abbey and Kirkstall Meadows, Apperley Bridge and Calverley.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning said:
“Offering protection and reassurance to people in Kirkstall and surrounding areas that were so badly affected by the Christmas floods of 2015 is a key element of the next phase of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.”
Adrian Gill, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency said the joint Leeds City Council and Environment Agency team managing the construction of the next phase of the Leeds flood defence would be available to talk to visitors and provide further clarification about the plans.
Although Leeds City Council has submitted the proposals for approval by planning officers, the detailed design of the scheme has not yet been decided.
The plans which will be on display include both parts of the two-step process that has been developed to give a one-in-200-year level of enhanced protection against flooding for Leeds, helping to better protect 1,485 homes and 370 businesses. If approved, work to deliver the first step, a one-in-100 year level of protection, is expected to start this summer.
The scheme also incorporates a flagship catchment-wide natural flood management programme. Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency will work with partners and landowners across the catchment to deliver a range of measures, such as the creation of new woodland and other natural features. The measures are aimed at reducing and mitigating the flow of rainwater into the river and helping to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Members of the planning committee are expected to meet to discuss the application at the end of March.
Click here to view the planning application documents.
Sulzer has launched a new global Center of Excellence (CoE) for Water Treatment Solutions - the CoE consolidates Sulzer’s wastewater treatment expertise in a unified and global manner.
“SAS (Surplus Activated Sludge) is a bit weird and 
Owen Mace has taken over as Director of the British Plastics Federation (BPF) Plastic Pipes Group on the retirement of Caroline Ayres. He was previously Standards and Technical Manager for the group.
PureTec Separations, the Ledbury-based water treatment engineering firm, has appointed Dan Norman as its new Sales Manager – Water Process Systems, supporting the company’s continued growth in the UK and international markets.
Hear how Scottish Water has completed its £235 million Ayrshire Glasgow Resilience Project - customers across Greater Glasgow, Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire will now benefit from a more secure and resilient water supply.
Hear how United Utilities is accelerating its investment to reduce spills from storm overflows across the Northwest.
Find out more about the remarkable career opportunities on offer at WSP - scroll down to watch the inspirational video.