Leeds Bradford Airport joins Aire Resilience Company to help protect the region from future flooding

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is proud to announce its partnership with the Aire Resilience Company (ARC), a new social enterprise bringing together leading Leeds organisations to better protect the region from the increasing threat of climate-driven flooding.

As a key pillar of Yorkshire’s infrastructure, Leeds Bradford Airport recognises the critical importance of climate resilience, not only for its own operations but for the people, businesses, and communities it serves. By joining ARC’s consortium of forward-thinking business partners, LBA is helping to fund a long-term, sustainable model for safeguarding the region’s future.

Kunaal Wharfe, General Counsel & Company Secretary said “As climate change increases the risk of extreme weather, it’s more important than ever that we take action. We are proud to be part of the Aire Resilience Company. By supporting this innovative partnership, we are playing our part in protecting our region’s infrastructure and communities for decades to come.”.

A Natural Shield for Leeds

The Aire Resilience Company is delivering large-scale natural flood management (NFM) across more than 1,300 hectares of the River Aire catchment—an area equivalent to 1,820 Elland Road pitches. Unlike traditional "hard" flood defences, ARC focuses on nature-based solutions that increase the "sponginess" of the land to slow the flow of water into the river system.

Key interventions include:

• Tree and hedgerow planting

• Soil aeration to improve water infiltration

• Earth bunds and buffer strips

• Multispecies leys to nurture healthier soils

These measures are a direct response to the growing severity of weather events. In 2015, the Boxing Day floods caused by Storm Eva resulted in an estimated £500 million in economic costs and impacted over 3,000 homes and businesses in the Leeds area. With rainfall projected to increase by up to 30% by 2070, ARC’s work provides an essential extra layer of protection to complement the city’s existing defences.