start-with-the-park

60 Start with the park
CASE STUDY
Quaggy River Catchment,
Lewisham, London
The Quaggy is 14 kilometres long
Construction period
1998–2004
Reduce flood risk imaginatively
Background
Urban development in the river valley and natural
flood plain over the past 150 years has increased the
risk of flooding in the River Ravensbourne catchment.
The traditional approach to flood alleviation had been
to increase the capacity of the river channel by culverting
and channel widening to allow water to flow quickly
away from built-up areas. Unfortunately this cannot
prevent catastrophic floods such as occurred in the
centre of Lewisham in 1968 – affecting hundreds
of businesses and residents. A proposal to reduce
flood risk and further widen the channels along the
Quaggy caused the formation of a local community
group – Quaggy Waterways Action Group – which
successfully campaigned for an alternative approach to
flood management that would allow the green spaces
along the network to store water during peak flows and
also facilitate a more natural and attractive meandering
river. This approach was then taken forward by the
Environment Agency.
New development needs to avoid increasing flood
risk. The new approach taken with the Quaggy is
important as it integrates green space design with
water management. It reduces storm water run-off
for Lewisham Town Centre as well as providing
improved recreational parks for local communities
and more variation in habitats that encourages
greater biodiversity.
Sutcliffe Park
Until the work started in 2003, Sutcliffe Park was a
flat, featureless area of grassland containing football
pitches and an athletics track. The space was little
used other than for weekend football. The river ran in
a concrete culvert. The design concept at Sutcliffe
Park was to create a multi-functional open space that
would improve flood management and the quality of
the park. A community liaison officer was appointed
from the area to include local people and particularly
local schools and youth groups. The space now forms
a shallow valley centred on the meandering Quaggy
River and a wide boardwalk that allows visitors to
walk above the water. During periods of extremely
high water flow, the flood alleviation scheme will
automatically operate, allowing water to fill the park
slowly, taking 12 hours to reach a capacity of 35
Olympic swimming pools. After the high flow has
passed, the water can slowly flow back into the river.
The system does not require any mechanical controls.
Chinbrook Meadows
Until 2002, Chinbrook Meadows was an under-used
small park that was divided by a deep channel. High
bushes and fences were put up to reduce the risk
of visitors falling in and injuring themselves.This was
replaced by a meandering naturalised channel with
associated wetland, improving biodiversity within the
park and reducing flood risk to adjacent properties.
The park was redesigned and upgraded with new
footpaths, tree and flower planting, gates, lighting,
bridges, sports facilities, educational resources and
art features.