SuDS in London - a guide

• Retrofit demonstrates how polluted
runoff can be practically managed in an
existing local park or urban green space,
while enhancing amenity and biodiversity
• The small interception forebays provide
a simple way of trapping and removing
pollutants, such as silt and heavy oils
• The changes of level in the park
landscape enhance the quality
of the space, while defining the
SuDS and biodiversity features
• The under-drain ensures the basins are
dry most of the time, but the rainwater
irrigates both trees and the meadow,
particularly in summer when many
urban park landscapes suffer drought
• Water-play in a safe place helps
the community relate positively to
normal rainfall and to appreciate
the impact of heavy storms in
summer when the basins fill
Lessons learned
• The project was undertaken with the
Priory Common rain meadow (case
study 5.1) and therefore benefited
from sharing expert site supervision
and a knowledgeable contractor
• Protecting planted channels where water
entered the SuDS and the relatively flat
basins reduced erosion to a minimum
• Physical protection of the basins was
considered but not used for reasons
including visual quality, risk of vandalism
and cost. It may be necessary to
overseed the basins when germination
of the wildflower seed is inspected
• The client partnership (Thames21
and Haringey Council) are currently
considering monitoring opportunities
• It would be useful to estimate natural
losses at different times of year in
different weather conditions
After
Images courtesy of Robert Bray Associates
• Signs provide information about
the components and benefits
of SuDS to passers-by
• The quality of runoff should be easy
to assess by collecting it as it passes
through the control chambers
Swale
90 5 Case studies