West Yorkshire leaders announce £22 million to protect businesses and communities from floods

18 December 2023

Homes, businesses and communities at risk of flooding will benefit from millions of pounds worth of protection against extreme weather events.

The cash was announced by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Calderdale Council Leader Jane Scullion today (December 18), following a visit by the Mayor to Brighouse.

The town was ravaged by the Boxing Day floods of 2015, when the River Calder burst its banks. Other local towns including Mirfield, Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, as well as large parts of Leeds and the wider region, were also badly hit.

In total, around 6,000 homes and businesses were damaged by the floods, costing West Yorkshire an estimated half-a-billion pounds.

Further serious flooding has occurred in Calderdale, including Storm Ciara in February 2020, with a number of ‘near miss’ events since that time.

In a bid to make the region resilient to future flooding, Mayor Brabin and Cllr Scullion have earmarked over £20 million to put up flood defences, slow the flow of water, and support at-risk businesses.

We want West Yorkshire to be more resilient to flooding so we can avoid the terrible devastation of the 2015 Boxing Day Floods
Tracy Brabin Mayor of West Yorkshire

The announcement follows a letter from Mayor Brabin to government ministers, calling for better and fairer funding for areas that are geographically at greater risk of flooding through no fault of their own.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“As climate change worsens, and one in 100-year floods become more common, it’s vital we step up our support for businesses and communities and ensure our region is fit for the future.

“We want West Yorkshire to be more resilient to flooding so we can avoid the terrible devastation of the 2015 Boxing Day Floods.

“I am calling on the government to provide the further funding that we need to reduce the looming threat of flooding, and help us build a greener, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”

The multi-million investment follows the launch of the West Yorkshire Plan in June, which sets out five regional missions aimed at boosting progress on jobs, housing, transport, climate and crime.

One of these missions, ‘a sustainable West Yorkshire’, outlined plans to deliver warmer homes and greener businesses, protect communities from the harmful effects of climate change, and build a net zero carbon region by 2038.

Cllr Jane Scullion, Leader of Calderdale Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, said:

“Although we’ve made incredible progress in our flood resilience work since the Boxing Day 2015 floods, people living or working in parts of Calderdale still live with the ongoing threat of serious flooding. This concern is shared in areas across West Yorkshire and sadly climate change is making extreme weather events, like flooding, more likely.

“The threat can never be completely removed, but we welcome this significant funding which will make a huge difference to communities across the region, supporting a variety of built and natural methods to prevent flooding and protect homes and businesses.”

The £22 million funding will be split across three priorities:

A £7 million natural flood scheme to slow the flow of water by working with natural systems that boost wildlife.
A £5 million scheme to help businesses implement new sustainability plans that guard against rising temperatures and water levels.
A £10 million infrastructure scheme to build physical protections, as part of a wider programme which aims to better protect over 2,200 businesses, 2,500 homes, and vital infrastructure such as rail and road.

The projects funded by the West Yorkshire Mayor will be delivered by partners including the National Trust and the Environment Agency and coordinated by the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Stewart Mounsey, Yorkshire Area Director at the Environment Agency:

“We know the devastating impact that flooding can have, which is why we are determined to reduce the risk of flooding for communities across Yorkshire.

“The Environment Agency, and other risk management authorities, are investing £340m in flood defence schemes in West Yorkshire - with two-thirds of that money coming from Government.

“These projects include the Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme where we are delivering essential flood resilience measures to help protect homes while improving the local environment in the upper catchments of the Calder Valley.

“We welcome this partnership working with local authorities and others to come together with a clear focus on protecting lives and livelihoods against the impact of climate change and delivering for the communities in West Yorkshire."

Joanne Hudson, General Manager for National Trust West Yorkshire, said:

“We are grateful for the support of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Together in partnership with Yorkshire Water, we will use funds to deliver natural flood defence projects as part of our new Landscapes for Water programme.

“As well as providing landscape resilience, we hope to get local communities involved in these projects, so we can show the next generation that nature can play a key role in preventing flooding and protecting our homes.”

ENDS