Harrow Council is making improvements to flood defences to protect residents, as housing rates continue to grow.
Natural flood defences will be implemented over a six year period the council has said. The scheme will also see environmental enhancements of public space in Harrow.
The council has been successful in securing a share of £6m in funding from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), to implement natural flood protection projects along the river Brent and Silkstream catchments.
The Government recognised the Borough has some of the fastest housing growth rates in London and is keen for us to implement natural flood protection measures to address river flooding within urban areas.
The proposed projects within Harrow include the following sites:
Stanmore Country Park – Flood storage area
Bentley Priory – Flood storage area
Temple Pond (Stanmore) – Increased pond volume/storage
Chandos Park – Flood storage and wetlands area
Edgware brook – River restoration
Sustainable Drainage Solutions (SuDS) at various designated Critical Drainage Areas
In addition to improving flood protection each project will bring multiple benefits by way of improving water quality, increasing natural habitat and biodiversity and improving public amenity space.
Cllr Varsha Parmar, Environment Portfolio Holder, said: “This is very exciting and welcome news. It’s great that it has been recognised that Harrow has one of the fastest housing growth rates in London and will need protection against river flooding.
“In addition, the benefits of this scheme, including boosting biodiversity and public space as well as improvements to water quality, will mean significant gains for the Borough.”
Work on the detailed design will commence in due course and will include stakeholder consultations.
Source: Harrow Council
