To mitigate fluvial and surface water flood risk in Stockport we assessed potential sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) measures that could be integrated into parks across the borough while providing enhanced biodiversity, better amenity and access, and educational facilities on the parks.
Stockport is one of the highest flood risk regions in the North West of England suffering from surface water and sewer flooding, resulting in the borough being assessed as a critical drainage area. The borough has experienced several recent and historical flood events, including in 2016 when 955 properties were flooded, with an estimated cost of £1.5M, and in 2019, when widespread flooding also blocked roads and rail lines.
As part of Stockport Council’s Park Life project, we carried out an outline assessment of potential SuDS measures to mitigate the perceived risk of flooding. A longlist of potential SuDS measures were proposed, which evaluated the pros and cons of typical methods such as swales, attenuation ponds and wetlands, with other creative opportunities to manage surface water including water play, de-culverting and natural flood management.
SuDS were proposed across parks that are well integrated within the public realm to maximise the benefits provided by them. These blue-green infrastructure corridors would provide effective drainage while creating places that improve people’s lives by enhancing the aesthetics of parks and creating spaces that foster a sense of community.