Shepherd Market Rain Gardens

Shepherd Market sits at the heart of Mayfair – a lively, high-footfall pocket of historic courtyards, restaurants and independent shops. In an area known for its impermeable surfaces, high drainage pressures and vulnerability to surface-water flooding, Westminster City Council introduced two new Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) rain gardens totalling approximately 50m².

As part of the borough’s wider £3 million investment into SuDS through its Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (2024–2030), the project demonstrates how even small pockets of urban space can meaningfully contribute to flood resilience, biodiversity and cleaner air.

To help reduce surface-water flood risk in a highly built-up and impermeable part of Westminster whilst, enhancing local biodiversity, improving air quality and demonstrating how compact SuDS can be integrated into busy areas.

Meristem Design delivered the rain garden planting and tree installation to provide functional stormwater management for an area that has long struggled with drainage and sewer surcharging.

The rain gardens were designed to help Shepherd Market cope with intense rainfall by capturing and storing water before releasing it slowly into the drainage network. To complement this core SuDS function, the planting plan focused on resilient species capable of thriving in extreme weather, coping with variable moisture levels, and providing visual interest year-round.

Layered grasses, flowering perennials and evergreen shrubs were combined with trees to create a textured, biodiverse landscape that matches Mayfair’s character while delivering practical climate resilience.

The Shepherd Market rain gardens show how carefully designed SuDS can strengthen flood resilience, enhance biodiversity and elevate urban public spaces – even in compact, high-profile areas like Mayfair. By increasing permeability in one of London’s most runoff-prone areas, the gardens help reduce surface-water flooding – a known vulnerability in the borough. The planting contributes to the council’s biodiversity ambitions, while improved air quality and visual greenery enhance the experience for residents, visitors and local businesses.

 As Westminster continues its investment in sustainable drainage across the borough, this project stands as a model for blending climate adaptation with thoughtful streetscape design.