Case study:Wandsworth Riverside Quarter

Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://www.restorerivers.eu/Portals/27/Wandsworth%20Riverside%20Quarter%20Intertidal%20Terraces.pdf
Themes	Estuary, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Spatial planning, Urban
Country	England
Main contact forename	Toni
Main contact surname	Scarr
Main contact user ID	User:Ascarr
Contact organisation	Environment Agency
Contact organisation web site
Partner organisations	Beckett Rankine, Biodiversity By Design, Capita Lovejoy, Fraser Property, J.T Mackley & Co Ltd; Salix Wetlands
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

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Project summary

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The area of the London Borough Wandsworth on the west bank of the confluence of the River Wandle and the tidal River Thames was previously a 4 hectare Shell Oil terminal, and subsequently a brownfield industrial site. The area had been protected over time from tidal flooding through a combination of concrete quays and timber and metal tidal defences. The history of the site led to issues of contaminated land and a disconnection of the area from the rivers it borders.

The former industrial site was redeveloped through a number of phased developments, which together comprised a complex of residential and commercial properties on the Thames waterfront under the name Wandsworth Riverside Quarter.

The redevelopment was identified by the Environment Agency as having the potential to provide an improved riverside environment, and an opportunity to reconnect the rivers with the people now using the previouslyderelict site. The suggested solution was to replace the existing tidal defences with a series of tidal terraces, creating a new intertidal zone and facilitating a range of associated transitional habitats.

Formation works (January 2009) • Preparation of site (coffer dams, excavation and soil removal, bank re-profiling, and set up site compound). Hard landscape works (February 2009):

• Laying contamination textile to reduce risk of contaminated soils entering the Thames during the works.
• Constructing timber terraces.
• Placing backfill materials.
• Laying root barrier.
• Laying silt accretion geotextiles to encourage silt to accumulate between the terraces.
• Fixing coir rolls at channel margins.
• Installing dead wood habitat staked at the margins between the slope and the channel to encourage more diverse plant establishment and flow conditions.

Monitoring period (March-May 2009)

• After installation silt was allowed to naturally accrete in the lower terraces to allow for the growth of tidal flora. Silt accumulation was monitored during this period and a significant increase in sediment accretion between the terraces was

recorded.

Rock roll installation (May 2009)

• Rock rolls (wave energy reduction structures installed by long reach plant) installed along with coir matting to encourage plant growth. Planting (June 2009)
• Intertidal vegetation was planted and dead wood installed along the terraces.

techniques used

• Preserve and improve water’s edge and bank side habitats
• Retain and improve existing water’s edge and bankside habitats in modified watercourses
• Realign flood defences to increase coastal and intertidal habitat
• Restore aquatic habitats in modified watercourses
• Use green engineering techniques instead of hard bank protection

https://www.therrc.co.uk/sites/default/files/projects/51_wandsworth.pdf

Monitoring surveys and results

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• Creation of a range of intertidal habitats in an otherwise biodiversity-poor area of the constrained Rivers Wandle and Thames.
• Improved access to the River Thames and River Wandle, bringing residents and members of the public closer the watercourse.
• Provides access to the watercourse for local wildlife.
• The site links in within green roofs and other green infrastructure designed as part of the redevelopment master plan creating an extended green network.
• The site acts as a showcase to demonstrate what can be achieved on tidal rivers.

Lessons learnt

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• Proactive discussion between the Environment Agency and the developers led to beneficial outcomes for both parties, and the creation of a multifunctional, more natural riverside environment.
• Use of coir rolls to stabilise the sediment accretion and bank reprofiling was insufficient and required rock roll installation.
• Success of sediment accretion between the terraces demonstrates good geomorphological understanding of processes and modelling.

4.00

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Location: 51° 27' 45.85" N, 0° 11' 44.61" W

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terrace just after constuction

terrace just after constuction

terrace just after constuction

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district Thames River basin London Subcatchment River name Thames Middle Area category Less than 10 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category Maximum altitude (m) Dominant geology Ecoregion Great Britain Dominant land cover Urban Waterbody ID GB530603911402 Other case studies in this subcatchment: Barking Creek near A13, Barking Creekmouth, Chambers Wharf, Cuckolds Haven Nature Area, Greenwich Peninsula, Lower River Roding Regeneration Project, Mill Pool, Saving Chiswick Eyot Site Edit site Name Bow Creek confluence with the Thames WFD water body codes GB530603911402 WFD (national) typology Intertidal WFD water body name THAMES MIDDLE Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body Yes National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present No Invasive species present No Species of interest smelt Dominant hydrology Tidal Dominant substrate Gravel River corridor land use Urban Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) 3030 m <br />0.03 km <br />3,000 cm <br /> Project started 2009/01/01 Works started Works completed Project completed 2009/12/31 Total cost category 50 - 100 k€ Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Frasers Property Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision 50 - 100 k€ Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Supplementary funding information the whole scheme including the development cost between £100k-£500k Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Flood and coastal erosion protection Hydromorphology Structure & condition of intertidal zone Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Case Study 2009 diary of works Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://www.restorerivers.eu/RiverRestoration/Floodriskmanagement/HealthyCatchmentsmanagingforfloodriskWFD/Environmentalimprovementscasestudies/Preserveandimproveedgeandbanksidehabitats/tabid/3105/Default.aspx Further information on preserving and improve water's edge and bank Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information