Reducing Flood Risk, Alleviating Pollution in Local Watercourses and Enhancing Habitats and Biodiversity

Design: Retrofitting an established housing estate in Hillingdon with SuDS

The “Green Blue You” project is dedicated to reducing flood risk and alleviating pollution in local watercourses while enhancing habitats and biodiversity.

Spearheaded by Groundwork London in collaboration with Hillingdon Council, this initiative is funded by the Green & Resilient Spaces grant from the Mayor of London.

The project has implemented SuDS within an established housing estate to manage and slow down rainwater discharge, reducing the strain on drainage systems.

The introduction of new SuDS componemets offers an opportunity to change the management regime of the greenspaces. Mowing regimes were relaxed and new meadows and vibrant planting have been introduced to support pollinators and increase local biodiversity.

New trees have also been planted to provide shade and cooling benefits in the years to come.

Innovation: Installing new conveyance channels to allow water to naturally run away from buildings

Retrofitting SuDS projects can be challenging due former drainage and engineering approaches not being conducive to SuDS approaches which mimic nature more closely.

This was the case and it needed an innovative solution due to the existing levels falling towards the buildings. To allow water to naturally run away from the building and into the swales new conveyance channels where designed and installed.

In these areas granite cobble channels were raised up where they meet the disconnected downpipe to provide the required levels to allow the water to run freely into the grass swales

Impact: 100 new trees and nearly 2000m2 of rainwater redirected

We have re-directed rainwater from nearly 2000m2 of the impermeable surface (roof or road) to 16 sustainable drainage features. The rainwater will be briefly held and discharged back to the drainage system at a slower rate. We have planted more than 100 new trees and specimen shrubs to improve local air quality and provide shade.

Trees will become a source of food and habitat for wildlife and an attractive, seasonally changing display.

We have planted more than

SuDS used:

• Rain gardens
• Basins
• Tree Planting

Interpretation Boards

We created custom graphics and information posters for the SuDS projects at four schools as part of Southern Water’s initiative.

These bespoke interpretation boards were designed to complement the unique landscape designs by Groundwork, ensuring that the visual elements aligned seamlessly with the overall project aesthetic.

We carefully crafted the graphics and language to be both engaging and easy for school children to understand, making the information accessible and interactive.

From concept development to the final printing and installation on-site, the result is a set of vibrant, educational boards that not only explain the SuDS systems in place but also encourage students to explore and learn more about sustainability in a fun and meaningful way.

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Watch how Sustainable Drainage Systems are making this housing estate in Hillingdon more resilient to water flooding and air pollution

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