Nine years of the Calderdale Flood Action Plan

1st October 2025 News

This autumn marks nine years since the launch of the Calderdale Flood Action Plan, developed in response to the devastating Boxing Day floods of 2015. The plan sets out the actions needed to recover and build resilience, focusing on four key themes: Strengthening Defences, Natural Flood Management, Resilient Infrastructure, and Community Resilience.

Delivering major successes

This year marks another big step forward in our work to better protect Calderdale from flooding. We’ve finished major construction projects, managed the landscape to slow down the flow of water, and helped our communities prepare.

Major projects making a difference

Work in Copley Village now better protects over 200 properties from flooding. We’re also making great progress on schemes at Brighouse and Hebble Brook, which are set to safeguard around 600 more homes and businesses.

Nature-based solutions in action

Landscape management efforts continue to play a crucial role in slowing the flow of water and reducing flood risk. This year along, we’ve:

  • Planted over 96,000 trees
  • Installed 427 new leaky dams
  • Planted 6,000 sphagnum moss plugs on moorland to help absorb water.

We’ve also introduced sustainable drainage systems (SuDs) at Ash Green, Mixenden, which help manage surface water, boost biodiversity, and reduce pollution.

Supporting communities and infrastructure

The new Hebden Bridge Flood Information Centre is now open, offering practical flood resilience advice from the Environment Agency to residents and businesses.

We’re also investing in critical infrastructure. For example, Burnley Road Academy now benefits from new flood resilience measures, including flood gates, helping to keep pupils and staff safe.

(Top Left): An illustration showing how a Sustainable Drainage System works. Rainwater falls from the sky, filters down through a layer of gravel, and then is either absorbed into the ground or drains out of a pipe. (Top Centre): An illustration of two people wearing hard hats and safety vests. They are standing by a river and holding a two-way radio and a clipboard. (Top Right): An illustration of a yellow excavator digging a large hole in the ground. (Middle Left): An illustration of a street of buildings. A retaining wall and water are visible on the right side of the image. (Middle Centre): An illustration of a group of trees with a fence in front of them. (Middle Right): An illustration of two people wearing hard hats, one with a beard, holding up a large sheet of paper with a drawing on it. (Bottom Left): An illustration of two people and a horse pulling a log from a river. (Bottom Centre): An illustration of the front of a school building with "Burnley Road Academy" written on a sign above the door. (Bottom Right): An illustration of a rural landscape with fields and trees.

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