BAM Nuttall joint venture wins £23 million Leeds Flood Defence Scheme

Bunnik, the Netherlands, 25 September 2014 - BAM Nuttall Mott Macdonald Joint Venture, set up to deliver coastal and fluvial works under the WEM (Water and Environment Management) framework, has been awarded a contract valued at £23 million by Leeds City Council, which it procured using the EA’s WEM Framework procurement facility. The aim of the scheme is to provide 1 in 75 year flood protection for the city of Leeds with works extending for 4.3km from the city mainline railway station to just below Knostrop weir.

This scheme will see the replacement of the existing fixed weirs at Crown Point and Knostrop with moveable weirs that can be lowered in flood conditions to reduce river levels and the threat of river flooding. This is the first time that these moveable weirs will have been installed in the UK.

An island at Knostrop Cut which separates the river from the canal will also be removed to allow the river and canal to merge. This will assist the flow of water in flood conditions. Linear flood defences in the form of walls and hard landscaping in the city centre will also be constructed.

On completion this scheme will provide the city centre, over 3,000 homes and 500 businesses with protection against a one in 75 year flood event from the River Aire and Hol Beck.

The project will take 125 weeks with a completion date of March 2017.


Further information:


  • press: BAM Nuttall, Peter Bishop, Head of Public Relations & Corporate Communications, 01276 63484;

  • analysts: Royal BAM Group, Joost van Galen, Manager Investor Relations, +31 (0)30 659 87 07.