UK’s Longest Residential Rain Garden for Sutherland Road

Client

Waltham Forest Council

Location

Sectors

Products & Services

Project overview

In collaboration with Waltham Forest Council, Riney, Wavin Orbia and what:if, Meristem Design played a pivotal role in transforming Sutherland Road into the longest residential rain garden in the UK. The ambitious public realm project reimagined a once vehicle-dominated street into a green hub of innovative SuDS, trees and planting. The initiative not only enhances the area’s climate resilience and biodiversity but also fosters a more accessible and vibrant community space, aligning with the Greater London Authority’s vision for the Blackhorse Lane Creative Enterprise Zone.

Goal

The aim of the public realm project was to create greener, more sustainable urban environment that both supports and prioritises active travel. Through the implementation of the rain gardens, the project aims to improve air quality and reduce surface water flooding, enhancing climate resilience. By introducing extensive SuDS, street trees, and planting, the project aimed to transform a neglected street into an inviting, sustainable boulevard that benefits residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

Scope

The project encompassed a variety of improvements along the stretch of Sutherland Road to create a greener public space, including:

Almost 500m of rain gardens
3,000 drought-tolerant plants
68 trees

Challenges

Sutherland Road is located close to Lockwood reservoir and Dagenham Brook and has historically recorded surface water flooding, the site is approximately 100m north of reservoir flood risk zone. The project itself faced some challenges that needed consideration such as:

Parking restrictions

The removal of parking spaces to accommodate the rain gardens required clear communication and collaboration with local residents and businesses

Surface Water Management

Addressing historical flooding issues necessitated innovative design solutions and the integration of SuDS

Urban Space Constraints

The project required creative design that had a balance of green infrastructure within a narrow, vehicle-heavy street

Community Buy-In

Ensuring widespread understanding and support for the changes was critical to the project’s success

Solutions

Working with project partners, we have delivered extensive rain gardens to capture rainfall and prevent flooding along the residential street. The area’s regeneration scheme required community collaboration and improved safety measures to transform the long street into a climate resilient, pedestrian friendly environment. The scheme includes:

490 square meters of new rain gardens and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
228 square metres of permeable paving
24 cubic metres of flood mitigation water storage crates (underground)
68 new trees
300 new shrubs
2000 new grasses and bedding plants
Footway parking moved into the carriageway
Approx. 500 square meters of new footway

Rain Gardens and Sustainable Drainage

The rain gardens capture and manage rainfall, reducing surface water flooding, filtering pollutants, and supporting biodiversity with drought-tolerant plants and shrubs.

Street Greening

The addition of 68 trees and 3,000 plants not only softens the urban landscape but also improves air quality, provides habitats for pollinators and birds, and enhances the overall aesthetic of the area.

Enhanced Public Realm

Project partners delivered upgraded footways, new bollards, and improved safety measures to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, encouraging walking, cycling, and community interaction.

Community Planting

Residents and local businesses were invited to join us on a community planting day, actively encouraging local people to get involved.

Impact

The transformation of Sutherland Road sets a precedent for similar green transformations in other residential areas, promoting healthier, more liveable streets across London. By reclaiming space for nature and people rather than vehicles, the revitalisation of the street encourages walking, cycling and social interaction while enhancing the look and appeal of the neighbourhood.

With the inclusion of new public art developed by local youth group ‘The Activators’ from the Blackhorse Workshop and collaborative community planting and maintenance of the rain gardens, the Sutherland Road Public Realm Improvement Scheme delivers a number of outcomes that provide improved places and create vibrant streets for local people and businesses.

On a street that has not had any trees since the first world war, Meristem Design are proud to have been part of a significant urban greening project, making the area more enjoyable, cleaner, greener and healthier.