Lowden Road

This scheme is part of Lambeth Council’s Soak Up Lambeth initiative, where the council has partnered with Thames Water Utilities to help reduce climate change's current and future impact on flood risk. This work is needed because when it rains in Lambeth, water from our roofs and paved surfaces enters the same sewer pipes as our toilets, sinks and washing machines. During heavy storms, rainwater overloads the sewers, causing flooding to those that live downstream. This can also stop drains from working, causing localised flooding upstream. The situation poses risks to property and people's health and well-being. We have installed sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) on Lowden Road to store the rainwater from the roofs and paved surfaces and then slowly release it back into the sewer. This will help to reduce the risk of flooding in the borough.

While there are many possible locations to introduce SuDS, sites were selected based on the results of a flood modelling assessment. This study highlighted key opportunity areas which will have the highest impact on flooding in the borough. SuDS can come in many shapes and sizes and help improve the local environment and recreational space. On Lowden Road, we have installed rain gardens, which are areas of planting specially designed to slow the water flow to the sewers.

The rain gardens on Lowden Road cover nearly 70 square metres. They are composed of robust grasses and perennial plants situated in shallow beds designed to capture and absorb runoff. When water passes through the rain garden, flooding in these areas will be reduced as the garden can absorb some of this excess water.