In 2022, North East Lincolnshire Council was awarded a share of £6.7m to develop innovative solutions for flood and coastal resilience in the community.
Last year, a number of planter boxes were installed at four schools in the borough as part of the funding. The boxes, also known as Roof Irrigation Planters, allowed rainwater from the roof to discharge directly into a planter bed, increasing flood resilience by absorbing water and slowing the flow of water.
The next schedule of works as part of the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme will start on Monday 12 February and is anticipated to be completed in 6 months, subject to weather conditions. The work includes replacing the existing grass verges on Broadway with rain gardens. A rain garden is a sustainable drainage feature which will allow the surface water to drain from the road into a flower bed.
Underneath each flower bed will be a storage tank to store the water and slowly drain it back into the sewer network. By slowing down the flow of water into the sewer, it will reduce the flow volumes in the sewerage system, meaning there will be more capacity available during summer storms and so the risk of flooding is reduced.
The works will be completed under localised traffic management, including two-way traffic lights. Works will be carried out during the day, Monday to Friday, with no overnight or weekend works planned.
Construction of small sections of rain gardens will be taking place at any one time, rather than the whole length of road being impacted for the duration of the works. This approach should minimise any disruption caused.
The project is funded by Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes which is managed by the Environment Agency. The programmes will drive innovation in flood and coastal resilience and adaptation to a changing climate.
Andy Smith, Drainage and Coastal Defence Team Manager at Equans, said: “Managing rainwater run-off with rain gardens is an attractive, low maintenance and wildlife-friendly sustainable drainage feature. The rain gardens will allow us to manage rainwater run-off from the highway in a more natural way, reducing flood risk.”
Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: “It’s great to see more and more projects come to life through the Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme. Broadway is one of the areas in the borough that floods frequently, therefore this scheme in particular will help us to improve the resilience of local roads and properties to flooding.”
Matt Moore, Flood Partnerships Manager at Anglian Water, said “Raingardens and other SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) which ‘slow the flow’ of surface water into our combined network helps massively to reduce flood risk and helps the environment thrive.”