Wortley Beck Flood Risk Study
Find out how we’re lowering the risk of flooding to properties from Wortley Beck with our Flood Risk Study
Leeds City Council Flood Resilience
Wortley Beck Flood Risk Study
Why Wortley Beck needs flood protection
[Flooding to the A6110 Ring Road from Wortley Beck in 2020] [photo credit: Gary Derbyshire]
There have been frequent flooding events from Wortley Beck (also known as Farnley Beck and Hol Beck) most notably in 2007 and 2015. There are over 50 properties in the catchment known to have been affected by internal flooding and 200 properties within Flood Zone 3. There was also recent flooding of the outer ring road in February 2021 and February 2022.
What we’re doing to reduce the risk of flooding
Leeds City Council’s flood risk management team are currently working with the Environment Agency to assess the flood risk in the area through various mapping and modelling tools.
Empty heading
In September 2022 we were able to identify a long list of possible interventions that could reduce flood risk in the area.
An initial round of consultation was undertaken on the long list of options. The responses to this consultation were incorporated into further modelling. We collated the responses into common themes and responded to those who signed up to our mailing list in February 2023.
Since the consultation, we have been analysing the feasibility of the potential solutions. The process of developing a scheme that is both effective and affordable is complex and time consuming. The Wortley Beck catchment is vast, and as such there are several options for interventions that we have considered. Testing all these options independently, and in various combinations with each other, to find the optimal solution has taken a huge amount of processing.
Next steps
Work on the scheme is currently paused whilst we review the options appraisal and develop an updated engagement plan.
Contact us
To sign up to our mailing list, please contact FRM@Leeds.gov.uk and include the name of the scheme in the subject line of your request.
For any more information, please email us at FRM@leeds.gov.uk and include ‘Wortley Beck Flood risk study'.
Page last reviewed July 2026
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