Who We Are

The Aire Resilience Company (ARC) is a not‑for‑profit Community Interest Company (CIC) established to reduce the impact of the climate change in Leeds until at least 2069. We deliver and support natural flood management (NFM) interventions to reduce flood risk, enhance the environment, and create long‑term benefits for communities, businesses, and the landscape

ARC is designed to support and enhance the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (LFAS), by enabling the planning, delivery and long-term maintenance of NFM measures across the Upper Aire Catchment. These interventions help better protect Leeds from future flooding due to climate change, whilst delivering a range of wider social and environmental benefits.

ARC brings together businesses, farmers, landowners, and partner organisations to support the delivery of NFM across the Aire catchment, ensuring that all funding received is used directly to achieve environmental and community benefits. By blending public and private finance, ARC enables the large‑scale delivery and long‑term maintenance of NFM measures in the Upper Aire Catchment.
 

Our Purpose 

ARC’s core purpose is to enable the large‑scale delivery and maintenance of nature‑based solutions that reduce flood risk and provide climate change resilience. This is accompanied by significant environmental benefits including improved biodiversity and water quality. In some cases, there are also benefits for soil quality and therefore land productivity.

To achieve this, we:

  • Use evidence 
We use hydrological modelling to identify priority areas within the catchment and monitor the effectiveness of NFM interventions so we can respond to changes in the catchment and adapt delivery based on the latest evidence.
 
  • Ensure long‑term maintenance
To ensure the benefits of NFM measures are protected and continue to deliver value far into the future.
 
  • Blend public and private finance
ARC combines funding from multiple sectors to support catchment‑scale NFM delivery and maintenance in the Upper Aire Catchment.
 

  • Support climate resilience for businesses

By participating in ARC, businesses can take proactive steps to strengthen continuity, reduce flood risk, and contribute to their Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments.
 
 
This combination of governance, evidence, funding and long‑term delivery makes ARC a unique mechanism for enabling sustainable, landscape‑scale change.

Our Board

ARC is built on collaboration, working across sectors to achieve better outcomes for businesses, landowners, communities and the environment. 

ARC is governed by a Board of Directors representing the key stakeholders and interests involved.

These will include representatives for :

  • Businesses Partners contributing to the maintenance of ARC delivery.
  • Farmers & Landowners on whose land the measures are located.
  • Leeds City Council
  • The Rivers Trust
  • The local community
  • An independent chair
  • An appointee to the board nominated by the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC)

The board can also elect additional members to ensure that it has the right knowledge and experience in place to make sound decisions that enable ARC to fulfil its stated aims and obligations to stakeholders.

Meet the team

What We Deliver

ARC supports all stages of NFM delivery, from site identification and design to installation, monitoring, and long‑term maintenance.

ARC aims to deliver and support NFM measures that work with natural processes to slow the flow of water, store water in the landscape, and reduce downstream flood risk. This work improves the resilience of the Aire Valley, supports healthier ecosystems, and provides long‑term benefits for people, businesses, and the wider catchment.

Reducing Flood Risk

We design and deliver natural flood management measures to achieve at least a 5% reduction in peak flows on the River Aire during extreme storm events, helping to better protect communities downstream.

Environmental Benefits

Our interventions go beyond flood risk reduction, enhancing biodiversity, soil health, water quality, and increasing water retention to create healthier, more resilient landscapes.

Learning, Scaling & Sharing NFM

We generate practical evidence on delivering NFM at unprecedented scale in the UK and share this learning widely to support the roll‑out of similarly ambitious NFM programmes elsewhere.

Opportunities for Businesses

ARC provides businesses across Leeds and the Aire Valley with a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the region and to climate resilience. Through ARC, businesses can contribute to a greener, more sustainable catchment and support resilience for their supply chains, customers, and local communities. ARC enables businesses to work collaboratively to deliver nature‑based solutions that benefit both the environment and the regional economy.

Find out more
Meet Our Business Partners

Opportunities for Farmers & Landowners

Farmers and landowners play a vital role in hosting natural flood management interventions across the catchment. ARC works with land managers who are interested in contributing to NFM delivery, helping reduce flood risk while enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and the overall environmental condition of the Aire Valley. By participating in ARC, farmers and landowners support landscape‑scale resilience and help shape a more sustainable future for the region.

Find out more