Leeds flood defences protect 800 homes as Government exceeds national target
Thousands of homes and businesses across Yorkshire - including in Leeds - are now better protected from flooding after the Government exceeded its national target for new flood defences.
New figures show more than 6,000 properties across Yorkshire and the Humber have benefited over the past two years, with major schemes such as the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (LFAS) playing a central role in reducing flood risk along the River Aire.
In Leeds alone, work delivered under the scheme has improved protection for 804 properties, according to a joint statement from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency.
The achievement forms part of a wider national milestone, with the Government exceeding its two-year target by nearly 10,000 homes and businesses across England.
The LFAS was launched in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day 2015 floods, which caused widespread damage across the city and acted as a catalyst for major investment in long-term flood resilience.
Phase 2 of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme - a partnership between Leeds City Council and the Environment Agency - was completed in late 2024. It strengthens flood defences along the River Aire between Leeds city centre and Apperley Bridge, using a combination of flood walls, river engineering, and natural flood management measures across the catchment.
The scheme is designed to protect 1,048 homes and 474 businesses, delivering a standard of protection against flooding events up to a one-in-200-year level, with additional allowances for climate change.
Floods Minister Emma Hardy said the investment was “paying off”.
“This Government has invested a record £2.65 billion to repair flood defences and build new ones,” she said. “Our investment is paying off, with almost 62,000 homes and businesses better protected from flooding and a further 840,000 properties on course to benefit by 2036.”
Across Yorkshire and the Humber, around 6,400 properties have benefited from new or improved flood defences, while nationally 61,898 homes and businesses have been better protected - surpassing the original target of 52,000.
The Environment Agency says the wider programme is expected to prevent around £10 billion in economic damage, with every £1 invested in flood defences estimated to save about £8 in avoided losses.
Caroline Douglass, Executive Director of Floods and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency, said the results reflect strong collaboration across the sector.
“Exceeding our target by nearly 10,000 properties reflects the tireless work of our teams and partners across the country to protect the communities they serve,” she said.