'We need to keep our city safe': Residents invited to shape Leeds' next flood defence strategy
Council chiefs warn we ‘cannot be complacent’ around flood risk
Council chiefs are asking residents for their views on how the city plans to provide greater resilience to flooding.
Leeds City Council is consulting on its latest Local Flood Management Strategy, which has been updated since its first publication in 2012.
The local authority has said that during that time it has helped to reduce the risk of flooding to an estimated 5,589 properties.
And it said a number of schemes have been introduced including the £200million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme between 2017 and 2024.
The strategy stresses the importance of protecting Leeds’ spaces through the use of innovative technology and infrastructure, preparing for a changing climate including helping residents and businesses prepare for and recover from flood events, and working in partnership across the city to focus on the issues affecting flooding.
Councillor Peter Carlill, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said: “We can be extremely proud of the work we have delivered in partnership across Leeds to deliver major infrastructure and many projects which is keeping our city safer from the risk of flooding.
“But we cannot be complacent, because we can never be fully protected from flooding and we are all too aware of the devastation it can cause.
“Our latest flood risk management strategy builds on the work we have done so far and ensures we remain resilient into the future as we continue to adapt to the challenges of climate change.”
The Boxing Day floods of 2015 saw waterways burst their banks across the city, causing a staggering half a billion pound’s worth of damage throughout the region.
Millions more has since been spent on preventative measures by Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), with guarantees given that if such a deluge were to happen again then the city would be mitigated.
The council is consulting on the strategy between until September 4 It can be viewed on its dedicated webpage, with feedback and comments to be considered before the final version is agreed in late 2026.