C A S E S T U DY
1. Church grounds riverside walk, garden of contemplation, green space and flood wall. © AtkinsRéalis
Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme An AtkinsRéalis project designed to significantly reduce flood risk in Mytholmroyd. Tim Gorton Located at the confluence of two waterways, in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, Mytholmroyd experienced its highest-ever recorded flood following a devastating event on Boxing Day, 2015. This caused millions of pounds of damage and undermined the confidence of this community. Approximately 300 properties and 70 businesses were flooded, as well as the church, church hall, two schools and the community centre. For Mytholmroyd’s flood alleviation scheme (FAS), AtkinsRéalis provided the design as part of a joint venture with Volker Stevin. Working with our client, the Environment Agency, the
scheme encompasses a series of engineered and natural flood risk interventions at a number of locations throughout the village, including raised flood walls, demolitions and the creation of new public realm and open space. The scheme also incorporates new bridges (including a green bridge), waterside walkways, wetland habitat, managed floodplain and amenity planting, all of which has been integrated into the busy, compact fabric of a traditional Pennine village. The project overcame many challenges, providing enhanced protection to 400 homes and businesses, as well as local infrastructure. It was a complex scheme in a narrow, steep-sided, restricted semi-urban valley environment, which was designed and delivered during a pandemic and two major
storms. Each of these challenges was surmounted without compromising on quality of design or delivery. Its success is testament to the team’s collaboration with our client and stakeholders and steadfast commitment to design quality. In a village, where land management opportunities were limited, the hard engineering was mostly kept within the waterside banks by purposely minimising how much the scheme encroached upon public and private space. However, new public space was provided through the demolition of several buildings (and relocation of their previous users), to create a more defined village centre. Mytholmroyd’s FAS was developed from an extensive optioneering and consultation process in conjunction with the local community, local
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