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Mytholmroyd Flood Alleviation Scheme
Church grounds riverside walk, garden of contemplation, green space and flood wall. © AtkinsRéalis
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 interest groups, key stakeholders and statutory consultees. Consultation workshops were held from the outset to understand the community’s requirements and explain the process. Following this, further consultation included a staffed visitor centre, regular Open Day events, including a community vote to choose the stone wall coursing. There were also talks to local institutions, as well as regular electronic leaflet drops.
The potential of collaboration was maximised by establishing a stakeholder working group, which included the local community, Natural England, Historic England, the Canal and River Trust, the Leeds Diocese and Calderdale Council. Several landscape workshops were held with this group, chaired by an independent built environment expert. These shaped the public open space and wall design.
To maximise climate change resilience, an area of frequently waterlogged sports pitches at Brearley Fields was mostly returned to managed floodplain, creating a wetland meadow to ‘slow the flow’ (also the name of a charity working on this issue in the local area). This first phase of the wetland park has enabled an expansion of the riverside habitat, benefitting the environment and providing a peaceful attraction for both the community and visitors. This has included new areas of wet grassland and wet woodland, as well as new native mixed woodland along the edge of the site on the canal embankment, plus a new grass-reinforced canal spillway. A tree planting strategy, developed with the Environment Agency, prioritised native trees with consideration for local character. In more urban areas, trees were chosen to be more drought resistant.
The scheme has contributed towards carbon reduction, mitigating climate change and other environmental challenges and protected lives and property. However, the project’s features also create a more stable and sustainable community by promoting active travel with new riverside and wetland walks, footbridge links and attractive public open space destinations in the village, maximising the scheme’s ongoing impact on human health and wellbeing. A new, green road bridge has been installed centrally within the village and uses materials sourced through local quarried and reclaimed stone.
The combination of engineered and natural approaches to flood risk here should inspire future projects all over the country.
AtkinsRéalis landscape architects were at the heart of this project, working extensively with the local community, stakeholders, contractor and engineering partners, delivering a sensitive and thoughtful scheme, significantly reducing flood risk at Mytholmroyd. The completed scheme has enhanced the character, quality and diversity of the natural, historic and cultural environment in Mytholmroyd, in particular, the setting of its waterways and their adjacent spaces, including the first phase of a new wetland park and managed floodplain. This comprehensive but sensitive waterside project has provided security for many who are still suffering the emotional and financial strain from the floods, restoring the local community’s confidence in the future, whilst leaving a lasting legacy for the community to enjoy. 'Climate change is increasing the frequency and the severity of floods everywhere, and everyone needs to adapt,' says Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency. 'The combination of engineered and natural approaches to flood risk here should inspire future projects all over the country.'
Tim Gorton CMLI is Associate Director, Landscape Architecture at AtkinsRéalis and was the landscape lead for Mytholmroyd FAS. Mytholmroyd FAS was a 2022 Landscape Institute award winner in the Excellence in Flood and Water Management category.
