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Sheepscar Beck refurbishment

As part of our flood risk management programme, we are refurbishing a 670 metre stretch of the Sheepscar Beck flowing through Leeds to restore the watercourse and reduce flood risk.

Completed

What is the Sheepscar Beck refurbishment project?

The Sheepscar Beck flows through a channel through Leeds city centre. It consists of a series of culverts, and canal like sections and was in a poor condition.

This scheme has refurbished 670 metres of the watercourse to repair the channel walls, prevent blockages, and reduce flood risk as a result. As part of the scheme, we will also plant new trees and native plants and install bird and bat boxes in the area surrounding the watercourse.

The Combined Authority are working with Leeds City Council, the Environment Agency and their partners to deliver the scheme.

Construction has been completed in July 2025.

What was achieved?

The Sheepscar Beck refurbishment scheme included:

  • Refurbishing 670 linear metres of Sheepscar Beck watercourse
  • Planting new trees to replace those removed as a necessity during construction at a ratio at 3:1
  • Plant 50 square metres of native plants
  • Install 5nr bird and bat boxes in the watercourse vicinity
  • Install 164 linear metres of new fencing

As a result of these improvements, this will:

  • Prevent failure of the channel walls and blockages within the channel and culverts
  • Lower flood risk to 51 residential and 255 commercial properties
  • Reduce carbon emissions by approximately 2,439 tonnes of CO2 over the next 50 year
  • Provide an economic benefit of £32,796,379
  • Deliver high value for money, with a BCR (Benefit-Cost ratio) of 7.9:1, meaning that for every £1 spent, the project is expected to generate £7.90 in benefits

How was this project funded?

As part of the West Yorkshire devolution deal, we secured funding for this scheme through the Single Investment fund. The Sheepscar Beck refurbishment scheme was funded by Single Investment Fund (SIF) Investment Priority 3 Gainshare Allocation £620,104, plus £943,297 of funding from Environment Agency.

Learn more about the West Yorkshire devolution deal.

What is the flood risk management programme?

The Sheepscar Beck refurbishment is one of the projects in our flood risk management programme. This programme is a series of measures to help prevent flooding. They aim to:

  • Reduce the need for repairs to houses and businesses from flood damage
  • Improve flood protection for vulnerable and deprived areas
  • Use innovative and sustainable flood prevention methods, which will help decrease our carbon footprint and support our goal to become carbon net zero by 2038
  • Improve biodiversity in our rivers and surrounding areas, supporting our Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The £7 million-pound Natural Flood Management (NFM) programme uses methods that work with the environment and replicate natural processes.

As well as the NFM programme, there is £10million available to focus on flood prevention infrastructure. This will support a wide range of engineering schemes delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency and local authorities. This will protect 2,560 homes and 2,271 businesses, as well as safeguarding around 29,000 full time jobs.

Find out more

For more information, please email our team.

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