Tulse Hill

This scheme is part of Lambeth Council’s Soak Up Lambeth initiative, where the council has partnered with Thames Water Utilities to help reduce the current and future impact of climate change 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 as well as people's health and wellbeing. We are looking to install Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) on Tulse Hill 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 can also help to improve the local environment and recreational space. At Tulse Hill, we would like to install a rain garden, which is an area of planting specially designed to slow the flow of water to the sewers.

The planned rain garden at Tulse Hill will be composed of robust grasses and perennial plants situated in shallow depressions 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.