Hebden Bridge flood alleviation
Protecting homes, businesses and jobs from future flooding in Hebden Bridge.
Protecting homes, businesses and jobs from future flooding in Hebden Bridge.
In February 2020, the Combined Authority’s Investment Committee approved £1.9 million to initiate a £27.2 million scheme in Hebden Bridge, led by the Environment Agency. This scheme aims to reduce the risk of flooding from a 20% risk to a 2% risk in any given year.
This initial £1.9 million project funding was used to design measures to reduce flooding. Further projects to implement the measures will follow.
Hebden Bridge is a picturesque market town located at the meeting point of the River Calder and Hebden Water river in the Calder Valley. It is an area of natural beauty with a strong industrial legacy of water powered weaving mills. It is a key economic area for the borough, attracting many visitors to its shops, pubs and eateries.
However, the geography and industrial legacy of Hebden Bridge make it vulnerable to flooding. In recent years, severe flood events have repeatedly affected homes and businesses, causing disruption and damaging the local economy.
This project was developed to reduce the town’s flood risk and improve its long-term resilience. The scheme focused on designing measures to:
The Environment Agency led this part of the project with Calderdale Council and Calderdale Flood Partnership as delivery partners. Work took place between May 2021 and June 2023.
£1.9 million from the Local Growth Fund, with additional funding from:
The Hebden Bridge flood alleviation project is part of our wider flood alleviation programme, a £20 million initiative to reduce flood risk across West Yorkshire.
Since the Boxing Day floods of 2015, the Combined Authority has invested £20 million from the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, alongside over £170 million of partner match funding, into schemes across the Leeds City Region to safeguard up to 1,385 businesses and at least 11,100 jobs from the risk of flood.
The Combined Authority is also investing £2.6 million in the Wyke Beck Flood Alleviation Scheme in East Leeds, £3.9 million in phase two of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme and £1.7 million in natural flood management schemes in the Colne, Calder and Upper Aire catchment areas.
For more information, please email the Environment Agency.
