KEIGHLEY'S flood defences are to be shored up as part of a massive £5 billion-plus investment.

The Environment Agency has revealed details of the scheme, which will see existing defences refurbished or replaced and new measures implemented.

It is included in a £5.2bn investment planned by the Government to provide 2,000 new flood and coastal defences across the country.

According to the Environment Agency, around 460 homes and 290 businesses in Keighley are currently at risk of flooding.

A drop-in event has been held at the town's Victoria Hall to showcase the proposals.

And a full consultation on the initiative, known as the Keighley and Stockbridge Flood Alleviation Scheme, is due to be held next year.

The Environment Agency is working in partnership with Bradford Council and Yorkshire Water to deliver the project.

Luke Williams, the agency's senior flood risk advisor for West Yorkshire, says: "Keighley is situated at the confluence of the rivers Aire and Worth and has a long history of flooding.

"A flood alleviation scheme along the River Worth, made up of raised defences and embankments, was constructed in the early 1980s. These sit alongside some privately-owned walls and buildings that act as flood defences. There are also raised defences on the River Aire in Keighley, which were last refurbished in 2004.

"Whilst these defences have provided protection from flooding over many years, some of them – particularly those on the River Worth – are now nearing the end of their design life and need repairing or replacing.

"As well as reducing the risk of flooding from the rivers, the new scheme will also aim to tackle risks from surface water when it is unable to drain away through the drainage network, and will explore options in the upper catchment area to slow the flow and help manage the impacts of climate change."

Options will include natural flood management, such as targeted tree and wetland planting, buffer strips and water storage features, and the agency is keen to hear from landowners interested in getting involved. Email KASFAS@environment-agency.gov.uk to register an interest.

An outline business case will be produced next year, with construction expected to start in 2026-27 and be completed by late 2030.

Mr Williams adds: "It is important to us that residents, businesses, landowners and other interested parties have the opportunity to give us their views on the scheme. We will be engaging with the community throughout the development of the project, to ensure that we listen to and learn from others’ comments.

"Engagement will increase as we begin to shape a shortlist of options and move towards a final design for the scheme."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, welcomes the initiative.

He adds: "The Bradford district, like many communities in West Yorkshire, has been impacted heavily by major floods over the past ten years.

"Working with the Environment Agency we developed the Bradford Flood Programme Board to create a long-term strategic approach to managing flood risk, and the Keighley and Stockbridge Flood Alleviation Scheme is an example of that work."

More about the scheme can be found at consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/yorkshire/keighley-stockbridgefas

Records of large-scale floods in Keighley date back to 1866.

This century, the area has been particularly badly hit in 2000, 2004 and 2015.

At Christmastime, 2015, heavy rainfall associated with Storm Eva saw the rivers Aire and Worth reach their highest-ever recorded levels in Keighley and existing flood defences were breached.

Homes and businesses in many parts of the district, including Stockbridge, Crossflatts, Silsden and Haworth, were hit.

The Environment Agency subsequently carried out repairs to sections of flood walls along the Aire and Worth, and rendering to the rear of some commercial premises to ensure they were watertight.

It also cleared locations where large deposits of silt, mud and gravel had built up in the rivers.