Leeds FAS2 Engineering Works Updates

In this section of the website, we will keep you up to date on the progress of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme phase 2 (FAS2) throughout the construction of the engineering works. 

You can find out more information on the scheme on our Leeds FAS2 General Information page. 

We have split the Leeds FAS2 into 12 zones which are shown on the below map:

You can navigate to information on each zone from the map or read through zone by zone below.

Overview

The works in this zone are complete. 

Once the scheme is fully complete in Autumn 2024, a 1-in-200-year level of protection will be in place. Please note that, in the meantime, while completed flood defence assets may alleviate river flooding at a local level, the success of the full scheme is dependent on all works being complete

Works in zone 10 stretch from the north of Leeds City Station to Wellington Road.

There were no existing flood defences in this area prior to Leeds FAS2.

The works consist of masonry clad reinforced concrete, and exposed steel sheet pile flood defence walls up to 1.2 metres in height with the latter to be later incorporated into developers’ landscaping works.

As part of the environmental enhancement and mitigation to be provided by the scheme, floating riverbanks have been installed, by No.1 Whitehall Riverside. These installations are floating ecosystems, softening the riverbank wall, as well as providing a habitat for plants and wildlife.

Completed flood walls at the former Yorkshire Evening Post siteCompleted flood wall at Wellington Place

Completed floating riverbank

Page last updated 31/7/24

Overview 

The works in this zone are complete. 

Once the scheme is fully complete in Autumn 2024, a 1-in-200-year level of protection will be in place. Please note that, in the meantime, while completed flood defence assets may alleviate river flooding at a local level, the success of the full scheme is dependent on all works being complete.

Works in zone 11a and 11b stretch from Wellington Road to Viaduct Road. This stretch of riverbank is occupied by several businesses including factories, offices, and warehouses along the Kirkstall Road corridor. It also contains the site where our project offices are based.

Works In this location involve raising the level of the left riverbank and constructing a combination of reinforced concrete walls, cladded with brick, and installing steel sheet piles.

Some of the flood defences are set back from the river to allow for future riverside access. 

In a location adjacent to eChem we have constructed a sheet piled wall in the river channel to defend the business against flooding. 

At Burley Bridge Mills it was not possible to work inside the building to strengthen the riverside elevation so this was done by working externally from the river channel. 

We have carried out work to around a hundred openings in the existing river side wall that were either live drainage outfalls or redundant historical outfalls so that they are sealed against raised river levels.

Works here were part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Completed Works

The vegetated reinforced earth embankment at the Tannery site 

Sheet piling adjacent to eChem with planting at the foot of the piles and space for planting at the top

Completed works at the HFH site

Completed flood wall at the former Studio 81 site

Completed flood defences at NIC Services

Completed flood defence wall at our former site compound on Viaduct Road

• Flood defence walls have been completed in between Wellington Bridge and Washington Street
• Strengthening of existing building elevations at Aire Place Mills has taken place to allow them to act as an effective flood defence
• A sheet piled flood defence structure has been installed in the river channel adjacent to eChem
• A section of collapsed 4m high riverbank adjacent to The Tannery has been rebuilt with a vegetated reinforced earth embankment – a nature-based solution, which is low in carbon, improves the riverside habitat and is nicer to look at than traditional engineering techniques.
• As part of our ongoing efforts to incorporate the natural environment with our flood defence assets, we have installed planters at the top of the sheet pile wall by eChem.
• Works at the former Studio 81 site to install a flood wall are now complete, allowing the developer to continue with their construction.

Page last updated 31/7/24

Zone 12a focuses on Armley Mills, which historically served as one of the world’s largest woollen mills and is now the site of Leeds Industrial Museum. 

Overview

Armley Mills has historically been impacted by floods and experiences low level flooding every three to five years. Recent large-scale flooding (including the 2015 Boxing Day floods) has resulted in significant issues, including loss of power and long-term damage to historic areas and exhibits.

The works being delivered at Armley Mills are:

• Flood defence walls between 0.8m and 2.1m with cladding that will blend into the existing industrial setting of the museum
• The replacement of the pipe bridge, formerly the historic access to the mill, as the current structure is restrictive to water flow. It will be replaced with a service line bridge with the appearance of a footbridge
• Two new control structures at the downstream and upstream end of the site – during normal flow conditions these will remain open, allowing a consistent water flow. When the river levels become too high the sluice gates will close, so that the museum is protected from flood water

Flood defence work at Armley Mills is expected to complete in Summer 2024.

Completed Works

The upstream flow control structure

Installation of the Milford Place Pipe Bridge 

• A narrow-gauge railway has been removed from the works area
• In March/April 2022 we carried out vegetation management works on the island. Amendments were made to the original plans for these works to retain as many trees as possible on the North side of the island. Other vegetation was coppiced, rather than removed entirely, to encourage regrowth and retain habitat.
• In April 2022 we established a 1000 tonne crane in the Cardigan Trading Estate car park, over two days. We then used this to lift two smaller crawler cranes over the river to the Armley Mills island, which was necessary due to lack of road access.
• In late June we dismantled the boiler room extensions and removed damaged sections of the locomotive shed roof ahead of objectives moves within the shed.
• After careful planning with the museum and heritage experts, we have successfully moved several artefacts on the island and inside the locomotive shed to allow for works to continue.
• A fish rescue was successfully carried out. We moved approximately 100lbs (45kg) of live fish from the goit into the river. These included carp, chubb, grayling and minnows.
• As part of ongoing efforts to meet fuel and material reduction targets across our construction sites, we have installed a solar and hydrogen fuel cell-powered gatehouse. This new system is completely free of emissions, and is a great example of the various ways we are mitigating the environmental impact of construction.
• We successfully have installed the Milford Place Pipe Bridge, connecting utilities and other services from the Leeds Industrial Museum to Milford Place - Visible from Canal Road and the Milford Place footbridge, this pipe bridge features ten steel silhouettes of mill workers, a nod to the museum’s industrial heritage
• Works inside the locomotive shed were completed in May, and we are working closely with the team at the museum to enable Project MEND (a separate initiative funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Support and Arts Council England) to begin works here.
• We have successfully completed all works behind the drying range building, as well as the downstream and upstream flow control structures

Current and upcoming works

Aerial view of works at Leeds Industrial Museum

Both upstream and downstream flow control structures have passed commissioning tests, meaning that they could be operated and function as intended during a flood event, reducing the volume of water inundating the historic Goit under the museum. 

• Most areas across the site have also been reinstated and landscaped, with museum artefacts returned to their original locations, where possible. 
• Remaining works include the installation of fencing and guard rail along the ramp to Buffalo Bill bridge, as well as the railway track that has been laid around the site. 
• We also continue to work closely with LIM on exhibition panels that will be displayed along the flood defence wall at the upstream end of the site. This includes artwork from local artists, as well as information about both phases of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme. This exhibition is expected to be complete in the next few weeks.  

Page last updated 29/8/24

Overview 

The works in this zone are complete. 

Once the scheme is fully complete in Autumn 2024, a 1-in-200-year level of protection will be in place. Please note that, in the meantime, while completed flood defence assets may alleviate river flooding at a local level, the success of the full scheme is dependent on all works being complete.

Works in zone 12b include building concrete flood defence walls cladded with material appropriate for the area.

This area contains Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, where our flood defence works are sensitively being incorporated into a new public realm design, while keeping the new children’s play area. In the below before and after slider, you can see how the site looked before and after this section was completed in January 2022:

Completed works 

Raised planters at Cardigan Fields made using 3D printed concrete

Flood wall near to Evanston Avenue
Completed works at Kirkstall Viaduct

Page last updated 31/724

Overview

Works in zone 12c run further along Kirkstall Road, behind ASDA and the Home Office Site. We will build flood defence walls, plant more trees and create two flow control structures across the goit upstream and downstream of the Home Office as well as a new pumping station.

The flow control structures will have a penstock which will be operated in a flood event to restrict the flow entering the goit.

Completed works 

Completed flood walls at the substation off Redcote Lane

Completed walls and glass panels at Airedale House 

• We have now completed the installation of sheet piles in this area.  Throughout this process we reduced disruption where possible by regularly communicating with residents and businesses and changed our working hours through the week, or over weekends
• Work at the Redcote Lane substation is now complete, meaning we have established our first flood cell to a 1-in-100 year level of protection. This is particularly significant as this site powers thousands of homes across West Leeds, and is vital to the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people we seek to protect from flooding
• Works at Airedale house are substantially complete, with only minor finishing works remaining. The works here include the use of glass panels

Current and upcoming works

Aerial view of the surface water pumping station at the Home Office building

• We are liaising with the landowner and utilities provider at this location to agree a wayleave to enable a permanent power supply to be connected.

Page last updated 29/8/24

Overview 

In zone 12d, flood defences will line the left and right bank of the river along the railway line and the Leeds Rhinos Rugby Club training ground.

Access to the river from the Canoe Club will be upgraded with a new canoe ramp and platform which can be used by the public to enjoy the use of the river.

Continuing down the left bank, the flood defence will continue into the old Saint Anne’s Mill area with the public footpath leading around the river being maintained for public use. On the right bank of the flood defence at Saint Anne’s Mill is Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve which isn’t included as part of the flood defence scheme, but is subject to further funding proposals in the future to enhance the area including creating new footpaths to improve access.

Construction started in summer 2021 and is aimed to be complete by Summer 2024.

Completed works

Completed sheet piling by Kirkstall Training Ground

• Detailed designs of flood defences were developed in autumn 2020
• All works by the Kirkstall Training Ground have been completed and we have vacated the site
• Construction and commissioning of the flow control structure near St Ann’s Mill is now complete

Current and upcoming works

Sheet-piled wall along the railway line by Kirkstall Bridge

• Works to the flood defence wall on the right bank by the railway line continue, with anchors for sheet piles being installed. 
• Works to the surface water pumping station on Wyther Drive are also nearing completion. 
• We continue to work closely with the businesses along Wyther Drive, as well as colleagues at Network Rail and Yorkshire Water, to keep them updated on our programme of works. 

Page last updated 29/8/24

Zone 13 covers Kirkstall Bridge along with the Kirkstall Bridge Inn and Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park, up through Kirkstall Meadows, Kirkstall Abbey up to Newlay Bridge, this area has a mixture of uses, for business, retail, leisure and areas of significant historical importance.

Overview 

In zone 13a on the left bank, our works will replace the flood defence wall, reinstate the gardens and block underground seepage paths at the Kirkstall Bridge Inn which was impacted by the floods on Boxing Day 2015.

Works are also to be conducted in Kirkstall Meadows. We will be making landscape and ecological enhancements across 2.4 hectares including the creation of wetland scrapes and a kingfisher and sandmartin bank. It is currently planned that the wetland habitat will be inaccessible to the public to minimise disturbance. The existing sports pitches will be retained.

The flood defence within this area consist of an embankment that runs along the back of Kirkstall Meadows to protect the railway line, the new embankment will tie into new walls that extend up to the existing Kirkstall bridge.

No flood defence works are proposed for Kirkstall Forge as part of this scheme.

Completed works

Completed works at the Kirkstall Bridge Inn

• Works in this zone began on the 8^th of August 2022
• We completed our major works in the beer garden at the Kirkstall Bridge Inn.
• We have completed the 1.4km earth embankment on Kirkstall Meadows, that will protect the railway line from flooding
• We have installed a new ramp providing access for the emergency services and maintenance vehicles from Kirkstall Bridge to Kirkstall Meadows.
• Works to transform 2.4 hectares of land on Kirkstall Meadows into a wetland habitat have been completed, enhancing biodiversity in the Kirkstall area.

Current and upcoming works

Stone cladding works to the flood defence wall by Sandford Lodge

• We are now completing works on the right bank by Sandford Lodge, completing a section of flood defence wall that had previously enabled temporary access onto the meadows. The structure of this wall is complete, with stone cladding and reinstatement works ongoing. 

Page last updated 29/8/24

Overview

Works in this zone are now complete.

Kirkstall Abbey is classified as a Scheduled Monument, which legally protects it against unauthorised change. Fortunately, the ground height of the Abbey is above the threshold for any flood alleviation works, and there are minimal works being undertaken within the Kirkstall Abbey conservation area as a result of this scheme, although more significant works are being undertaken in the surrounding areas.

We have built a new control structure across the entrance of the goit and in front of Kirkabbey Sluice Gates which will tie into the listed weir. This will limit the volume of water during high river level conditions. This has been designed to ensure that the structure complements the sensitive historic environment in which it is situated, and the existing sluice gates and gate house will be retained.

These works will also facilitate the ability for the community aspiration to improve the flow of the goit in this area.

Completed works

Completed flow control structure at the inlet of Kirkstall Goit, near Kirkstall Abbey

• In summer 2020, we carried out ground investigation works at Kirkstall goit, the location of our proposed flow control structure. The work involved removing silt for inspection.
• We also carried out ground investigations at Kirkstall Abbey, which helped to inform the next stage of delivery. To do this work, and to protect and minimise disruption to species in the river, we led a fish rescue. We successfully relocated chub and gudgeon. 
• Works to the flow control structure at the inlet of Kirkstall Goit near Kirkstall Abbey are complete.
• We  have removed the temporary causeway and carried out landscaping works in these areas, to reinstate the site to its natural setting.

Page last updated 31/7/24

Overview

Works in this zone are now complete.

There will be a combination of remedial building works, flood defence walls and sheet piling which will be clad in stone, so it is in keeping with the conservation area. Works will also be sympathetically undertaken due to the listed bridge in Newlay, in line with the Listed Building Consent.

Completed works

Completed flood walls in Newlay

Page last updated 31/7/24

Overview 

Between the Horsforth Vale housing development and Cragg Wood, we are building a flood storage area. This will play an integral part in increasing the standard of protection downstream in Leeds to 1-in-200 years, including an allowance for climate change.

The flood storage area will be operated by a flood control structure consisting of two large floodgates and a 200m embankment with a maximum height of 6.2m above existing ground level. This structure will operate automatically to reduce the volume of river water heading downstream in flood conditions over the 1 in 100-year threshold. The flood storage area can hold up to 1,800,000m³ of water when the river levels are high and then slowly release it back into the river when it is safe to do so.  

The below mock ups show how the completed storage area will look before and during a flooding event:

The below video showcases how the storage area will work during high river levels:

The flood storage location is mostly rural, with areas of woodland to the north and south. As part of our work, we will create habitat and wildlife areas in the surrounding area.

Completed Works

• Planning was approved in May 2021 and construction of the access track started immediately after
• The site compound, office and welfare facilities were established in September 2021
• After this works commenced on diverting the existing river channel and construction of a temporary crane platform
• In September 2021 installation of temporary works to facilitate construction of the flow control structure of the flood storage area commenced and will continue into 2022
• In order to construct the control structure, a temporary cofferdam (dry working area) was completed in January 2022
• We have completed a brook diversion on site. Planting around this area has been completed, and slopes have been hydroseeded with a wildflower grass mix. 
• The causeway adjacent to the cofferdam has also been completed. This will allow access to the right bank of the river so that we can complete work there, including protection works to the nearby gas main.
• In December we began to extract sheet piles from around the cofferdam, allowing the river to flow back into the working area watch here: 
• This is a significant achievement for the scheme, as the diversion of the river through the structure allows us to begin considering the sequence of works which will ensure the flow control structure will function in late 2023. 
• We have successfully removed all the sheet piles from the cofferdam (dry working area), which will be reused in other areas of our works.
• We have successfully installed both gates of the flow control structure, complete with mechanical and electronic elements.
• Works to relocate flood sensitive equipment relating to a pumping station owned and maintained by Yorkshire Water has been completed.
• The causeway across the river has been removed, and installation of scour and reprofiling of the riverbank is also completed. 
• Works on the embankments are now complete.

Current and upcoming works

• Works at the flood storage area near Calverley are nearing completion, as minor snagging and reinstatement works continue. 
• We are working with utilities providers to complete the installation and connection of the flood defence infrastructure to wider systems and river level monitoring devices, ensuring that during a flood event the flow control structure will function as required. 

Page last updated 29/8/24

Overview 

The works in this zone are complete. 

Once the scheme is fully complete in Autumn 2024, a 1-in-200-year level of protection will be in place. Please note that, in the meantime, while completed flood defence assets may alleviate river flooding at a local level, the success of the full scheme is dependent on all works being complete.

Our work at Apperley Bridge includes engineered flood defences downstream from the entrance at Bottom Farm to Woodhouse Grove School. Our works also include flood walls, embankments and a pumping station. Minor works were required on Carr Beck to ensure that we do not increase flood risk to the area.

Completed works:

• An Inspection for bats and also to investigate the structural integrity of Apperley Lane Bridge was successfully conducted in January 2022
• We have completed the sheet piling between Apperley Lane Bridge and the Stansfield Arms pub
• At Woodhouse Grove School, we have completed reinstatement works to protect the Pavilion building.
• We have completed the sheet piling between Apperley Lane Bridge and the Stansfield Arms pub.
• Works at Woodhouse Grove School are now complete.
• Works at Bottom Farm are now complete.
• We successfully reopened the Grade II listed Apperley Lane Bridge to all road users on the 24^th of August 2023. 
• Work to the flood defence wall on the left bank by the bike shop on Apperley Lane is complete.
• The flood wall along Apperley Road is complete.
• We have completed resurfacing works on Apperley Road, between Apperley Lane bridge and Harrogate Road bridge, with the original access to the car park of the George & Dragon pub also reinstated.
• We have reinstated the gardens of properties along Parkin Lane, Waterloo Crescent and Tomlin Well Lane following completion of the flood walls in this area.

Page last updated 31/7/24