River Restoration Opportunity

Project driver

Amenity (place making), flood reduction and nature/biodiversity

Restoration Type

De-culverting and habitat enhancement

Project description

The Ravensbourne is in a deep, concrete-lined channel as it flows through Queensmead Rec Ground/St Martin’s Hill. Despite the space to the west of the river being used as sports playing fields (land use is therefore grassland), there is potential to move their boundaries further westwards to allow space for NFM measures such as concrete removal, channel realignment, bank reprofiling, wetland creation and installation of in-channel woody features and gravel. This will help to store approximately 2,000 m3. These NFM measures will reduce the flood risk experienced by the properties and roads just upstream of Beckenham Place Park, and by the properties north of Beckenham Place Park and important roads (A21 and Beckenham Hill Road)). Additionally, this NFM project could also reduce the flood risk experienced by the properties and infrastructure directly downstream of the park – Martin’s Road, Station Road, A222 (Bromley Road) and Shortlands Station. In addition to reducing flood risk, this project would improve biodiversity by naturalising the concrete channel and bring amenity value through wetland creation and boardwalks.