Innovative Flood Management: Croydon's SuDS Rain Garden Planters
Client
Croydon Council
Location
Sectors
Products & Services
Project overview
Meristem Design collaborated with Croydon Council to deliver SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) Rain Garden Planters in Croydon town centre, mitigating surface flooding while enhancing urban biodiversity and aesthetics.

Goal
To address surface flooding in Croydon’s busy town centre while introducing green infrastructure that improves air quality, biodiversity, and community wellbeing.
Scope
This project involved designing, fabricating, and installing three large steel rain garden planters spanning over 90m² along London Road, capable of capturing rainwater runoff from a 400m² area.
Challenges
- Managing significant water runoff from a large catchment area.
- Ensuring the planters could handle both drought and water saturation.
- Balancing functional flood management with aesthetic enhancement.

Solutions
To address these challenges, the following steps were taken:
- SuDS Planter Design: Large, raised powder-coated steel planters were designed with perforations, granular layers, and geotextile membranes to control water absorption and runoff.
- Plant Selection: A diverse selection of plants was chosen for their resilience in both drought and waterlogged conditions while contributing to biodiversity.
- Flood Management Integration: The planters captured rainwater, reduced strain on drainage systems, and allowed excess water to filter slowly into the ground.
- Tree Protection Measures: Custom barriers were added around trees for long-term health, enabling space for inspections and growth.

Impact
The project delivered lasting environmental, social, and visual benefits:
- Flood Reduction: The planters effectively reduced surface flooding along London Road by capturing excess rainwater.
- Urban Biodiversity: The rain gardens enhanced biodiversity with pollinator-friendly plants.
- Air Quality Improvement: Plants acted as natural air filters, improving local air quality.
- Enhanced Streetscape: The greenery transformed the urban space into a more inviting and pedestrian-friendly environment.

Featured products & services
SuDS Planters
Our SuDS planters are designed to manage rainwater sustainably in urban environments. By incorporating natural elements like vegetation, these innovative systems slow the flow of water, reducing runoff and the risk of flooding.
Rain Gardens
Transforming surface runoff into a sustainable solution, rain gardens capture rainfall before it enters the piped network and either releases it slowly into the network or allows it to infiltrate into the ground, preventing flooding.
Planters
Combining functionality with a style that fits any aesthetic, each planter is crafted with care to suit your location and enhance the space. Helping to add greenery to both indoor and outdoor areas, planters create welcoming spaces that benefit people, businesses and the environment.
Design
We specialise in designing beautiful, sustainable urban greening solutions and products that bring nature into public, commercial and residential spaces. From concept to final design, we work closely with clients to ensure that every element is crafted to meet their unique needs, aesthetic preferences, and sustainability goals.
Fabrication
We provide high-quality, in-house fabrication services tailored to the needs of urban greening projects. Composed of skilled welders and carpenters, our fabrication team brings each project from concept to completion using precision and exceptional craftsmanship.
Get in touch
If you like what you've seen in our case study and want to learn more about how this could work in your setting, please get in touch.
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