Green light for flood defence works

A multimillion-pound programme of flood defences designed to protect thousands of homes and businesses in Leeds has been granted planning permission.Leeds City Council approved applications for phase two of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme along the River Aire at a meeting of the city plans panel on 6 June 2019. The council worked alongside the Environment Agency to develop the plans.The approval is for the first of two steps which will, when combined, represent a £112.1m investment in the second phase of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme.The first step, set to start this autumn, will use £65m funding already secured from the government, alongside additional financial support from Leeds City Council and partners. It is designed to reduce the risk of flooding along an 8km stretch of the River Aire from Leeds city centre through the A65 Kirkstall Road corridor. It will focus on three key areas – Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, Kirkstall Abbey and Kirkstall Meadows.Now that planning permission has been granted, Leeds City Council can award the contract to produce detailed designs for the first step of phase two.The scheme was recommended for approval by the council’s planning officer in a report prepared for the meeting, as previously reported by Insider.