Plans go in for multi-million pound Brighouse flood defence scheme

Ian Walker, for the EA, has submitted a planning application to Calderdale Council for parts of the £19 million scheme.

The application seeks permission to build two flood storage areas within Wellholme Park and four flood storage areas within Whinney Hill Park, all with associated landscaping.

It also seeks to incorporate flood protection measures to properties within Albion Mills – these aspects followed consultation following some flooding in February 2022 and these should increase flood protection for local businesses, says the application, which is numbered 22/00828/FUL and can be viewed on the council’s Planning Portal.

Engineers Arup, in a supporting document with the application, says Brighouse has been flooded ten times in the last 70 years, with 77 businesses affected by the Boxing Day 2015 floods which engulfed parts of Calderdale.

Then in February 2020, in the wake of Storm Ciara, 144 businesses and 15 homes were flooded.

Because Brighouse is a key economic location for the council and wider Leeds City Region (LCR) including for employment growth, it has the potential to attract funding from numerous partners which will be key to delivering the scheme, says Arup.

With a pledge to keep the community informed of the proposals, all feedback from a number of events has been carefully considered, and where possible, themes raised will be considered as the design develops, say the engineers.

Overall, no negative responses where received that opposed the application and some responses offered further suggestions to supporting the scheme.