Climate change ‘poses a critical risk’ to York’s riverside heritage, say experts

A new report says that climate change poses a major risk to riverside heritage in York.

More extreme weather will lead to more floods in the city, which could damage or ruin historic assets close to the river, a report out today (Monday) warns.

But a radical rethink of York’s flood defences – including the removal of some rigid barriers – might help to save the history that is at risk.

The report, Celebrating our Distinctive Heritage, was commissioned jointly by Historic England and the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

“As a city already susceptible to major flooding, the effects of climate change are a particular concern – contributing to more frequent, and more intense, severe weather events,” the report says of York.

“This poses a critical risk to riverside heritage assets, both in terms of direct impacts from floodwaters and debris, and also the potential need to enhance flood defences in future.”

Sustainable, long term solutions to the flooding would mean allowing floodwater to periodically inundate farmland upstream of York.

“This could deliver substantial benefits,” the report argues.

“In addition to reducing the need for large-scale, harmful and extremely costly additional hard defences in and around York, a ‘payments for ecosystem services’ approach to flood attenuation would compensate farmers, enhance riparian biodiversity and significantly reduce the risk to riverside heritage assets.”

Sensitive upgrades of at-risk historic York buildings to improve drainage, more open spaces to store stormwater, and permeable surfaces on streets could also help.