Ravensbury’s Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)

The Ravensbury estate in Mitcham, south London, is currently undergoing an extensive regeneration. This development will be an exemplar in green infrastructure and building on the existing strengths of the neighbourhood; demonstrating best practice in relation to surface water management; and biodiversity. We are adopting an integrated approach to green infrastructure with overlapping functions. For example, under 5’s children’s play and informal seating will be integrated within sustainable urban drainage (SUDS), new trees and extensive planting.

The proximity of the development to the River Wandle and its natural landscape setting is one of the neighbourhood’s strongest assets, which we are enhancing by lowering and softening the southern boundary which borders the river. This will improve the visual connectivity with the River Wandle corridor and make it feel more of a part of the site.

The discharge of surface water run-off will be managed through a range of SUDS measures. For example, a 4m wide swale will run the full length of one of the east / west running streets. This will also contain doorstep play for under 5 year olds and tree and shrub planting of high biodiversity and habitat value. There will also be a rain garden on the north / south running street adjacent to Morden Road. Where play is not present, planting will be densified, offering a full range of evergreen shrubs and trees. These rich biodiverse corridors are also integral to the wider drainage strategy.

The regeneration of the Ravensbury estate, which is well underway, will create a green neighbourhood that reflects the character of its parkland setting.