Key Points
- Yorkshire Water has begun the second of three storm overflow projects in Horsforth, part of a £1.5bn regional investment to reduce discharges.
- The Newlay Grove project involves building two 26m³ underground storage tanks by contractors Ward & Burke.
- The first scheme occurred on Fraser Avenue; the third is planned for Newlaithes Road in summer 2026.
- The three Horsforth projects total £7m and provide 300m³ of stormwater storage, holding 300,000 litres to prevent discharges into the River Aire.
- Tanks take up to six months to install and store excess wastewater during bad weather for later treatment.
- This marks the tenth storm overflow project underway in Leeds within the wider programme.
- Other active Leeds projects include Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club, Wyther Lane in Kirkstall, Burley Village Green, Spen Lane in Headingley, Fraser Avenue in Horsforth, Sussex Avenue near Hunslet, Jack Lane near Hunslet, Stourton, and Beeston.
- Daniel Rhodes, Yorkshire Water project manager, noted that overflows operate too often, and these projects help reduce figures, with over 450 schemes planned by 2030.
- The Leeds projects aim to cut discharges by 72% by 2030.
Horsforth (The Leeds Times) April 28, 2026. Yorkshire Water has launched the second phase of its three-part storm overflow initiative in Horsforth, installing two underground storage tanks, each with a 26m³ capacity, on Newlay Grove. Contractors Ward & Burke are handling the construction, which forms part of the company’s £1.5bn regional investment programme aimed at curbing storm overflow discharges into local waterways. The tanks will provide additional network capacity to hold excess wastewater and stormwater during heavy rain, releasing it for treatment once conditions normalise.
What is the Newlay Grove Storm Overflow Project?
The Newlay Grove scheme follows the initial Horsforth project on Fraser Avenue and precedes a third on Newlaithes Road scheduled for summer 2026.
Together, these efforts represent a £7m commitment that creates 300m³ of storage space, equivalent to 300,000 litres of stormwater, preventing untreated discharges into the River Aire. Installation of the tanks is projected to last up to six months.
As detailed in the original announcement from Yorkshire Water, the storage tanks build extra capacity into the sewer network, capturing overflow during periods of intense rainfall to avoid flooding properties and ensure flows receive full treatment later. This approach aligns with standard engineering for combined sewer systems, where overflows act as safety valves.
How Does This Fit into Leeds-Wide Efforts?
The Newlay Grove project constitutes the tenth storm overflow initiative underway in Leeds under the £1.5bn programme. Active sites span Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club, Wyther Lane in Kirkstall, Burley Village Green, Spen Lane in Headingley, Fraser Avenue in Horsforth, Sussex Avenue near Hunslet, Jack Lane near Hunslet, Stourton, and Beeston. These schemes collectively target a 72% reduction in overflow discharges across Leeds by 2030.
Daniel Rhodes, project manager at Yorkshire Water, stated:
“Our storm overflows are operating more often than we, and our customers, would like, and projects like these are helping us to bring those figures down.”
He added:
“Newlay Grove marks the tenth overflow project in Leeds in this investment period, but we have many, many more planned across Leeds and the wider region by 2030 – over 450 individual schemes.”
What Progress Has Yorkshire Water Made in Leeds Storm Overflows?
Yorkshire Water’s Leeds efforts have accelerated, with multiple projects starting sequentially. The Fraser Avenue scheme in Horsforth, reported by the West Leeds Dispatch, began earlier and contributes to the local trio of initiatives holding three million litres combined across 300m³.
Broader Leeds work includes a £2.2m tank on Wyther Lane in Kirkstall, the fifth project launched, also by Ward & Burke, reducing discharges into the River Aire.
As reported in Yorkshire Water’s update, the company has initiated five projects in Leeds by late 2025, averaging one per month since August, within the £76m Leeds allocation of the £1.5bn plan. Dan Rhodes commented on the Wyther Lane start:
“Storm overflows across the region are operating more often than we, and our customers, would like, but we’re making significant headway with our programme in Leeds. We’ve now started five projects in Leeds, and over the next five years, we’re planning to bring the number of discharges from overflows in the area down by 72%.”
Further expansions in March 2026 saw three more Leeds projects greenlit on Spen Lane, Jack Lane, and Sussex Avenue, bringing the total underway to nine. Ward & Burke handles Spen Lane and Jack Lane, due for spring 2027 completion, while M Group manages Sussex Avenue for September 2026. Rhodes noted:
“We’re planning to bring the number of storm overflow discharges into the River Aire from storm overflows in the Leeds area down by 72% over the next five years, and these latest projects are an important step towards achieving that.”
Why Are Storm Overflows a Concern in the Region?
Storm overflows discharge untreated wastewater when sewer systems reach capacity during heavy weather, a necessity to protect homes from backing up. Yorkshire Water’s £1.5bn programme from 2025-2030 addresses over 450 sites region-wide, building on a £180m prior investment that cut discharges by 12% in 2024 versus 2023. The Leeds focus, including Horsforth’s Newlay Grove, directly tackles frequent operations noted by customers and regulators.
In related coverage, Yorkshire Water highlighted screens on all overflows to block solids like wet wipes, alongside completed tanks such as a £2.4m installation in Cudworth near Barnsley, slashing one site’s discharges from 41 to 1 in 2025.
Background of the Development
Yorkshire Water’s storm overflow programme stems from regulatory commitments under the 2019 Public Interest Commitment and National Infrastructure Committee endorsements, targeting tripled leakage reduction rates by 2030 and halving leakage by 2050.
The £1.5bn investment responds to rising discharge frequencies amid climate-driven heavy rainfall and population pressures on Victorian-era combined sewers. Horsforth’s projects, starting with Fraser Avenue in 2025, exemplify localised responses within Leeds’ £76m slice, prioritising high-discharge sites along the River Aire catchment. Prior reductions, like 12% in 2024, set the baseline for the 72% Leeds goal by 2030, with over 450 schemes ensuring phased delivery.
Prediction: Impact on Horsforth and Leeds Residents
This development can reduce flood risks for Horsforth residents on Newlay Grove and nearby streets by storing 300,000 litres of stormwater locally, easing pressure on the sewer network during rain events. Leeds households may see fewer overflows into the River Aire, improving water quality for recreational users and anglers, alongside a 72% drop in discharge events by 2030, affecting the daily reliability of services. Local communities in Kirkstall, Headingley, Hunslet, and Beeston could experience less environmental disruption, though construction noise and access changes may temporarily affect neighbours until the 2027 completion.
