Inner city river restoration
Working with the London Borough of Enfield in the UK, we have been designing and securing funding for a multi-phase project to mitigate flooding that will impact 200+ properties in the borough.
Working with the London Borough of Enfield in the UK, we have been designing and securing funding for a multi-phase project to mitigate flooding that will impact 200+ properties in the borough.
Constructing a Flood Alleviation Scheme along an urban reach (Turkey Brook) will enhance climate resilience in the area and, when completed later this year, will create nearly 50,000 m³ of offline flood storage area.
Jack Brooks, a Scientist at BMT, commented:
“This was an interesting project to have been able to have witnessed the construction on site. The flood alleviation scheme is transforming, what was, a relatively flat, neglected parkland into a diverse stage landscape, bringing with it enhanced fluvial flood protection and multi-recreational use spaces the local community will be able to enjoy for years to come.”
We produced an amenity and biodiversity master plan to incorporate climate resilience and sustainable urban regeneration into the park landscape at the design stage. We took the opportunity to transform a neglected parkland into a valuable green space creating cycleways, multi-recreational use, education/amenity space and linking with the broader transport network.
The scheme restores a relatively uniform 350m section with concrete banks by realigning the Turkey Brook away from the back of properties and into Albany Park. A series of meanders in the channel has been designed to promote increased conveyance into the offline storage area during high flows. Naturalising the track and widening the river corridor will benefit by improving habitat connectivity and promoting species establishment. The offline storage capacity (volume within Albany Park) has been optimised in modelling studies by modifying the spill level on raised embankments surrounding the park.
The creation of reed beds/ wetlands, meadows and enhanced woodland habitats provide an ecologically interesting area for recreation and educational use. The project retained the resultant spoil from excavation works to create the raised barriers, reducing the need for importing or removing spoil from the site.
Our expertise and experience in hydraulic modelling, 3D design application, and understanding of reservoir design requirements made this work possible.
In conclusion, over £1,000,000 of funding was secured by highlighting the schemes' benefit to mitigating flood risk, inner-city rivers, and creating multi-purpose green for disadvantaged communities.
