Rain Gardens along Romford Road

Client

Newham Council

Location

Sectors

Products & Services

Project overview

Working along Romford Road, a busy stretch linking Stratford and Ilford, we partnered with Newham Council and collaborated with Kenson Highways to deliver a series of roadside rain gardens as part of the borough’s broader, long-term vision of a greener, healthier public realm.

Beginning in November 2023, the ongoing project is helping to create a vibrant green corridor between the London Boroughs of Newham and Redbridge, supporting improved environmental quality improvements and more resilient streets.

The scheme also aligns with the 15 Minute City concept, encouraging safer, more attractive travel routes for commuters and the surrounding community while integrating sustainable drainage systems into the streetscape.

Goal

The project aims to revitalise Romford Road by promoting sustainable travel, improving environmental quality and creating safer, more pleasant streets for people to move through. As part of Newham Council’s three-year initiative, the rain gardens are designed to:

Reduce surface water flooding by capturing and slowing rainwater runoff
Define safer active travel routes
Introduce greenery and biodiversity to the space
Connect the two boroughs via a green route that works harder for residents, commuters and the environment

Scope

Romford Road stretches from Stratford to Ilford, crossing the London Boroughs Newham and Redbridge, and forming a crucial route through the city for many commuters.

Our involvement in the scheme began in November 2023 and spans a three-year programme of rain garden planting across the long stretch of roadside space. The rain gardens support new cycle lanes and pedestrian routes along the pavement.

The planting design was developed to enhance visual impact, support flood mitigation and provide additional shade, incorporating a mix of shrubs, perennials and trees. Key species include:

Achillea ‘moonshine’
Helictotrichen sempervirens ‘blue oat grass’
Cistus x purpureus

Solutions

The project has formed a series of rain gardens along Romford Road, designed to integrate sustainable drainage and greenery into a busy, urbanised stretch. The rain gardens have been implemented to manage surface water at source while also providing visual and environmental benefits to the streetscape.

The collaborative scheme brings together planting and more efficient drainage to create a more resilient public space.

Rain Garden Integration

The planted structures capture, temporarily store and slowly release surface water runoff to ease pressure on wider drainage networks and reduce the risk of flooding

Green Corridor Creation

Planting up either side of the road helps to establish a continuous green corridor between Stratford and Ilford, that connects the two spaces with nature

Biodiverse Planting

A mix of trees, shrubs and perennials has been selected to support and encourage pollinators to establish long-term greenery in the space

Enhancing Safety

The placement of the roadside rain gardens was selected to create an additional barrier between the road and the pavement which creates safer walking spaces for pedestrians

Impact

The rain gardens along Romford Road are helping to create a more resilient and vibrant green corridor. They contribute to wider improvements in air quality, biodiversity and the overall experience of the street alongside managing surface water runoff.

Flood Risk Mitigation

Surface water is captured and slowed, helping to reduce pressure on the existing drainage system during periods of heavy rainfall

Improved Water Quality

Runoff is filtered through the rain garden and its soil layers, helping to remove pollutants before water enters the wider network

Active Travel Boost

The introduction of a safer green route that separates the roadside from the pavement, encourages increased levels of walking, cycling and accessibility for local journeys

Enhanced Public Realm

Greening the road improves its visual value, increases wildlife population and helps shift local perception of Romford Road from a vehicle-dominated route to a safer, more people-focused space.