Plans have been approved to build flood walls as part of a £30 million flood defence scheme in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire.

The walled defences at Greenhill Industrial Estate will be developed to help better protect 400 homes and businesses in Mytholmroyd.

Features include building concrete walls on both the right and left banks, as well as installing flood gates at each end of the bridge and remove security fencing which obstructs the flow of the river.

This option was recommended as providing the best standard of protection for the whole village, within the resources available and timescales of the current construction programme. However, it was also agreed by the Calderdale Flood Recovery and Resilience Partnership Board to continue to seek opportunities to carry out widening the channel at Greenhill Industrial Estate in the future, as well as other measures such as reservoir management and natural flood management.


Design and construction of the scheme is being carried out by main contractor VBA, a joint venture comprising VolkerStevin, Boskalis Westminster and SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business. Main works will include construction of new, raised and improved flood walls, the relocation of Caldene Bridge, widening of the river channel at Caldene Bridge and on the right bank in front of St Michael’s Church and flood proofing of the buildings next to the river. Work will also be carried out to reduce flooding from the canal, culverts and Burnley Road.

Work is scheduled to be completed in winter 2019/2020.

Helen Batt, Calder catchment director for the Environment Agency, said: "We are committed to providing the best possible protection to the Mytholmroyd community as quickly as we can within the funds we have available.

"The Greenhill industrial estate is an essential part of the flood defence scheme and we have developed our plans in consultation with local businesses at that site.

"We will progress with the next phase of the Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme without delay – but continue to explore funding opportunities for further ways to improve the protection for people living and working in the village and the rest of the Calder Valley from flooding in the future."

(LM/MH)