Completing complex enabling works for new development on Leeds city centre outskirts

Author
Gerry Carolan, Operations Director, Civil Engineering
4 August 2026

A new development consisting of apartments, restaurants, and play areas was being constructed on the outskirts of Leeds on Kirkstall Road, helping to manage the growing population and demand for housing near the city centre.

Stockton Group was appointed by Rhodar, a leading specialist enabling works firm, to deliver a drainage network, construct riverside headwalls, and complete road mapping, ahead of full construction of the development taking place.

Decor Completing complex enabling works for new development on Leeds city centre outskirts
Scope of work

Scope of work

The project centred on installing an expansive drainage network for both foul water and stormwater, which required a separated sewer system to prevent contamination and ensure stormwater could be efficiently channelled away to reduce flood risk.

Stockton constructed Extrudakerb structures to provide durable vehicle barriers and edge restraint, and built riverside headwalls to manage safe water discharge at the edge of the River Aire, which the site backs on to.

The works also included the vast mapping of roads throughout the development, to improve access to the planned apartments and restaurants.

Project Summary

Installation of an expansive drainage network
Construction of additional drainage and flood defence structures
Completion of road mapping throughout the development

Project Breakdown

Complex works

The works were highly specialist and demanding, including creation of an expansive drainage network

Flood-prone environment

The project involved working closely with the Environment Agency near the bank of the River Aire, which is vulnerable to flooding

Completed ahead of schedule

Thanks to exceptional work from the Stockton team, the project was completed ahead of time

Quote Author

“I cannot thank you enough, you have been a huge help to me throughout the project and are a credit to Stockton. Michael has gone above and beyond in his on-site duties and is a credit to Stockton’s. I cannot thank him enough for his professionalism and pragmatism on site.”

Amy Parker Project Manager, Rhodar

Working in a flood-prone environment

The Kirkstall Road development is located next to the River Aire on land that has been historically vulnerable to flooding. This meant that Stockton had to work closely with the Environment Agency to focus on flood mitigation on the site, using the construction of Extrudakerb structures and riverside headwalls to manage runoff and prevent localised flooding.

The drainage system separated foul water and stormwater networks to prevent raw sewage from contaminating urban runoff, further reducing flood risk by stopping sewer backups during heavy rainfall.

Working in a flood-prone environment

Road mapping

With the Kirkstall Road development forming part of a major urban regeneration scheme on the outskirts of Leeds city centre, Stockton had to construct new access routes for the planned apartments, restaurants, and playgrounds, linking up with both the main road and the riverside.  

The development prioritises active travel and bus travel improvements, to better connect the new residential communities to the city centre. 

Road mapping

Health, safety and environmental compliance

The planning permission mandated ecological mitigation measures specifically for the River Aire which Stockton met though the construction of replacement river walls.  

In line with every project, Stockton implemented Health, Safety, Quality, and Environment (HSEQ) procedures throughout, completing the works ahead of schedule with no incidents or delays. 

Health, safety and environmental compliance

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