Brighouse park reopens with a new role in flood safety

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-29 17:35 3 min read

Lush green park with a river running through it under a blue sky.

Wellholme Park has reopened in Brighouse after major works designed to store stormwater, reduce flood risk and improve the riverside environment.

The park reopened to the public on Wednesday 29 July 2026, with residents invited to explore the changes during an open day. A Discovery Trail explained how the redesigned landscape will work during periods of heavy rain.

New storage areas can hold 8,900 cubic metres of water

The works are part of the Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme, delivered by the Environment Agency and Calderdale Council. New flood storage areas and a redesigned river channel will help manage water through Wellholme Park before it reaches the river downstream.

At full capacity, the park can hold around 8,900 cubic metres of water. The Environment Agency describes this as the equivalent of 24 of Brighouse’s main swimming pools. Water will then be released slowly back into the river over one to two days.

Brighouse park reopens with a new role in flood safety

For most of the year, the park will remain a dry, open public space. Shallow channels may carry small amounts of water, but the redesigned areas are intended to support everyday use as well as provide additional capacity during storms.

River changes aim to protect homes and businesses

Old weirs and walls have been removed to allow the river to flow more naturally. The changes are intended to improve river health while reducing the risk of flooding further downstream.

The main beneficiaries are homes and businesses in Brighouse, although the scheme also changes how water moves through the wider park landscape. The work has been designed around natural features, combining flood storage with new habitat and river improvements.

Wellholme Park has also been enhanced alongside neighbouring Whinney Hill Park. The improvements include more diverse and resilient surroundings, together with walkways and paths intended to keep the area accessible throughout the year.

Jo Arnold, Calderdale Programme and Partnership Manager at the Environment Agency, said the improvements would reduce flood risk, create biodiverse habitat and make the park enjoyable and accessible for the community.

The wider Brighouse scheme is a £31m project

The Wellholme Park works form a central part of the wider £31 million Brighouse Flood Alleviation Scheme. The project is being delivered in partnership with Calderdale Council, designers ARUP and contractors BAM.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is investing £4.5 million in the scheme. Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said investment in landscapes that slow the flow of water was needed to help protect homes and businesses while supporting wildlife and biodiversity.

Calderdale Council cabinet member Darren Commons said the park’s new flood-protection function would sit alongside its role as a community green space, including during the school summer holidays.

The park is now open for normal public use, with its storage areas designed to fill during severe rainfall and release water gradually over the following one to two days.

Source: Environment Agency News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

The article was checked against the supplied Environment Agency account of the completed Wellholme Park works and reopening.

Checks

Confirmed the reopening date and public open-day details
Checked the 8,900-cubic-metre storage capacity and one-to-two-day release period
Verified the £31 million scheme value and £4.5 million West Yorkshire Combined Authority i...
Checked the named delivery partners and quoted public officials

Environment Agency News Check Brighouse flood scheme facts