Case study:Cornmill Gardens (QUERCUS)
Project overview
Status | Complete |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Social benefits, Spatial planning |
Country | England |
Main contact forename | Paul |
Main contact surname | Chapman |
Main contact user ID | |
Contact organisation | London Borough of Lewisham |
Contact organisation web site | http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx |
Partner organisations | Environment Agency, Building Design Partnership |
Parent multi-site project | |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
Project summary
Site background
Before the regeneration of this site, this section of the Ravensbourne flowed through an area known as the Sundermead Estate. The river had been constrained within a narrow concrete channel as part of an historic flood defence scheme. This, together with high steel railings and overgrown vegetation had resulted in a neglected river possessing little ecological or local community interest. The river restoration scheme formed part of the 'Urban Renaissance in Lewisham' programme which aimed to create a new public open space within the Town Centre.
Objective
To remove the river from it’s concrete banks and create an attractive public open space.
Design
Following the preparation of design proposals and a full public consultation, a masterplan was developed for the whole site. The concrete walls of the river were removed and replaced with more natural re-graded banks interspersed with steps and wooden platforms to improve river bank access. A puddle –clay liner was constructed to help restore flows. Gravels were introduced into the bed of the river. These were sized to ensure that they could move in the channel with respect to the flow conditions, thus creating natural habitat features for wildlife. Marginal areas were planted with native species such as Rush (Juncus effusus) and Yellow flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) whilst a wildflower mix was sown along the banks. An overflow storage area which retains water during high flows was designed into the scheme by lowering an open space alongside the river.
Subsequent Performance Flood management within the channel should have been improved through a combination of making space for water by reprofiling the bank and creating additional storage on the floodplain. The area demonstrates how river restoration can be an integral part of a regeneration programme the helps to create a more attractive, diverse and accessible public open space with a natural river able to support a range of wildlife; mallards and moorhens have already been cited.
Monitoring surveys and results
Lessons learnt
Image gallery
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Catchment
Subcatchment
Other case studies in this subcatchment: Broadway Fields/ Seagers Distillary, Catford Greyhound Stadium, Ladywell Fields (QUERCUS), Ladywell Fields Phase 2, Ladywell Fields to Cornmill Gardens, Ladywell Fields toeboarding, Lewisham College weir, Linear Park, QUERCUS Ravensbourne, Ravensbourne Tescos... further results
Site
Project background
Cost for project phases
Reasons for river restoration
Measures
MonitoringHydromorphological quality elements
Biological quality elements
Physico-chemical quality elements
Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic
Monitoring documents
Additional documents and videos
Additional links and references
Supplementary InformationEdit Supplementary Information
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