River Restoration Opportunity

Project driver

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

Restoration Type

Habitat enhancement

Project description

Riverdale House/Sculpture Park is a small open space with potential for significant improvement in terms of flood storage potential, biodiversity and amenity value. This can be done through NFM measures such as removing the concrete from and reprofiling the left bank, removing the concreted channel bed and installing large wood deflectors and brash berms. There are constraints with the right bank due to the proximity of the building to the river, so the river can be widened only on the left bank, which will lead to the loss of semi-natural grassland and a bit of woodland and the gain of important freshwater habitat. Lewisham Town Centre has flooded significantly in the past, so this will contribute to the reduced flood risk in this area, specifically in the areas around Lewisham and Elverson Road stations and the A20 where it joins Thurston Road and the A21.