Agenda item

To consider a report by the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of a Pre-Application Presentation for Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 (PREAPP/18/00332) at River Aire through the areas of Leeds City Centre, Kirkstall Valley and Newlay

(Report attached)

The Chief Planning Officer submitted a report which sets out details of a

pre-application proposal for the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (Phase 2) at River Aire through the areas of Leeds City Centre, Kirkstall Valley and Newlay.

Site photographs and plans were displayed and referred to throughout the discussion of the application.

The applicant’s representatives addressed the Panel, speaking in detail about the proposal and highlighted the following:

·  Members were informed of the emerging proposals for the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 (LFAS2). Following construction and completion on site of Phase 1 (City Centre, Hol Beck, Knostrop, Woodlesford), the applicant has submitted an Outline Business Case to Central Government for funding purposes to assist in part financing of the £112.1m scheme.

·  The scheme covers a stretch of waterway totalling 8km in length. It is mainly centred on the River Aire and extends from the City Centre (south of Whitehall Road) through the Kirkstall Road corridor, along to Armley Mills, onto St Ann’s Mill, passing Kirkstall Bridge / Kirkstall Retail Park, south of Kirkstall Abbey, onto Calverley where an attenuation storage area is proposed and finally reaching just into the Bradford Metropolitan District boundary at Appleley Bridge. Additional Natural Flood Management proposals, including a substantial tree planting programme in upper catchments of the Aire (contributing to the creation of the Government backed initiative The Northern Forest), but although part of the wider LFAS2 project, these measures are being undertaken separate to the pending planning application.

·  The scheme proposal aligns with the Upper Flood Risk Management Strategy which promotes a 1 in 200 year (0.5%) standard of protection (SoP) + climate change to reduce the risk of flooding in developed areas of Leeds.

Members raised the following questions:

·  What consultation had taken place with Ward Members

·  What measures were proposed up stream beyond Leeds

·  What measures were been considered to reduce silting

·  Had the necessary funding been obtained

·  Why was the storage shelf proposal omitted along the Kirkstall Road corridor

·  Could the Goits be reused

·  Why was the Redcote Lane bridge being removed

In responding to the issues raised, the applicant’s representatives said:

·  The proposed scheme had been ongoing for some time. Some consultation had taken place around the Rodley attenuation measures and as a consequence the scheme amended but further updating/ consultation was required

·  The scheme before Members was limited to the Leeds boundary but works were ongoing up stream to tackle the problem including the creation of large scale water storage areas to be used in times of peak flow. Further smaller schemes were also in place including tree planting to slow down/ reduce water flow.

·  It was suggested that silting could be reduced if the river could be kept at a “steady flow” but regular maintenance was required if this was to be achieved.

·  It was reported that funding had not been obtained. The Business Case was currently the subject of ongoing political discussions

·  Members were informed that the storage shelf was not compatible with committed development schemes and further assessment revealed that it had the potential to increase flooding in the city centre

·  Officers suggested that it would prove difficult to reuse the Goits and they would not provide the required level of protection

·  Officers reported that the Redcote Lane bridge would be retained with only the redundant substructure to the bridge being removed.

In offering comments Members raised the following issues:

·  To ensure that full consultation was undertaken with Ward Members

·  Updated details about the scheme be circulated to Ward Members as they become available.

·  It would be useful to know what measures were being implemented up stream

·  What was being proposed was the basis for a reasonable scheme to tackle flooding issues. 

In drawing the discussion to a conclusion Members provided the following feedback;

·  To support in principle the continued development of Phase 2 of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme

·  To ensure that full consultation is undertaken with Ward Members

The Chair thanked the developers for their attendance and presentation and emphasised the need that full Ward Member consultation be undertaken

RESOLVED –

(i)  To note the details contained in the pre-application presentation

(ii)  That the developers be thanked for their attendance and presentation