£21 Million Investment to Revive Yorkshire's Rivers and Ecosystems

In a major boost for Yorkshire's waterways, a £21 million investment is set to support efforts to clear historic barriers and revive local ecosystems. The partnership, led by the Environment Agency, the Rivers Trust, and Yorkshire Water, has been working to remove or modify redundant structures associated with the region's industrial past, which have long prevented fish from moving freely.

Over the last decade, the collaborative network has already cleared more than 100 obstacles, including the Hirst Mill Weir on the River Aire, Stocksbridge Weir on the River Don, and Bowers Mill Weir on the Black Brook. This has allowed fish to once again move through the waterways, helping to restore natural processes and support the recovery of local wildlife populations.

Looking ahead, the Great Yorkshire Rivers partnership has secured an additional £11.4 million in investment from Yorkshire Water, with a further £10 million in match funding, to open up 500km of river habitat across the region over the next five years. By tackling these physical barriers, the initiative aims to deliver a range of environmental benefits, from improved water quality to enhanced blue spaces for local communities.