River Restoration Opportunity

Project driver

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

Restoration Type

Daylighting, de-culverting and habitat enhancement

Project description

The proposed river and floodplain restoration project at Mottingham Lane will produce significant environmental and amenity benefits and has been supported and developed by the EA, community groups, residents and Thames21 for several years. The project involves moving the river channel from the concrete channel west of Mottingham Lane to join its downstream stretch east of the road. NFM measures to be implemented include re-meandering, floodplain reconnection and installing large wood deflectors. The concrete channel west of the road would subsequently be infilled and could be used as a bund for flood storage. Small areas of existing grassland and woodland would be replaced by valuable new freshwater habitat. This project would reduce the relatively high flood risk downstream around the important A205 and A210 roads and nearby properties.