A £5.6 million flood defence fund to help protect West Yorkshire’s communities and businesses from extreme weather has been signed off by regional leaders.

The investment will be used to refurbish a flood channel in Leeds, redirect floodwater away from businesses and into the River Holme in Huddersfield, and create new areas of wetland to slow the flow of water and help protect homes and businesses in Brighouse.

The proposals were agreed at a meeting of the regional Climate, Energy and Environment Committee today (13 February), and will bolster a wider £22 million flood alleviation effort announced by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin last December.

It is estimated that 37,000 homes and 15,000 businesses in West Yorkshire are in a flood zone. During the Boxing Day floods of 2015, around 6,000 homes and businesses were damaged, costing the regional economy an estimated half-a-billion pounds.

Read more