Leeds has spent well over a decade, and hundreds of millions of pounds, learning to live with water it doesn’t want. Now the council is consulting on its latest Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, which sets out how the city plans to stay ahead of the risk in the years to come.
The council published its first version of the strategy in 2012, and working with partners since then has reduced the risk of flooding to an estimated 5,589 properties. That work includes the £200 million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme, delivered in two phases between 2017 and 2024, alongside a string of smaller projects across the city.
This updated strategy replaces the 2018 version and sets out three main areas of focus: protecting the city’s spaces through innovative technology and infrastructure, preparing for a changing climate by helping residents and businesses get ready for and recover from flood events, and strengthening partnership working across Leeds to tackle the issues driving flood risk.
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 consultation runs until Friday 4 September 2026, with feedback considered before a final version of the strategy is agreed later in the year. The strategy can be viewed, and comments submitted, on the council’s dedicated consultation webpage.
