1.2 Relationship between urbanization and water resilience.
2.Problematization
21 Challenges of flooding in London
22 Existing Policies and governance structure in place for water resilience
2.3 Gaps and opportunities in implementing water resilience.
3.
7.
5.1.1
9.
7.1
7.1.1
7.1.2
7.1.3
7
8.1
8.1.1
8.1.2
8.3 Spatial actions and design interventions
831 Strategy 1: Naturalizing the water edge
832 Strategy 2: Setting up and maintaining water recharge points
8.3.3 Strategy 3: Designing the street for resilience
8.3.4 Strategy 4: Setting up of a shared stormwater harvesting network
8.3.5 Strategy 5: Connecting and creating green spaces across the development
Abstract
In the age of climate change, urban landscapes face ever-increasing water-resilience concerns London is experiencing massive estate regeneration programmes to handle its urban development needs to address the ever-growing need for housing as well as the need to ensure water resilience. This research study proposes a retrofitting approach meant to improve water resilience as part of London's estate regeneration objectives. The fundamental goal of this research is to address the critical need for flexible and sustainable surface water management solutions in the context of estate regeneration This framework crosses disciplinary boundaries, incorporating urban design, policy framework, and social integration to provide a complete strategy to incorporating water resilience into estate regeneration initiatives. The framework's key parts include an evaluation of the estate regeneration area, which includes concerns such as flooding. The project features creative design solutions to improve water resilience by using green infrastructure, sustainable drainage systems, and flood-resistant architectural concepts It aimed to foster both active and passive participation of local citizens and stakeholders in decision-making to ensure that water resilience measures correspond with community requirements and preferences. It promotes cooperative initiatives between various governmental and non-governmental institutions to coordinate efforts, pool resources, and implement effective water management solutions This study paper acts as a practical guide for urban planners, politicians, and developers working in London by presenting this retrofitting methodology. It emphasises the importance of incorporating water resilience within the larger framework of estate regeneration to produce sustainable, resilient, and habitable urban environments for current and future generations
9.1
9.2
1.1 Background
With expanding cities, the housing demand is increasing Densifying existing areas is a popular tactic to limit urban expansion in the periphery This densification increases pressures on land and existing green infrastructure. According to the United Nations' World Urbanisation Prospectus 2018, approximately 189 cities worldwide, including London, are vulnerable to at least one sort of natural disaster. (UN, 2018). Densification indicates an increase in the amount of water impervious to the land, making places more vulnerable to flooding during periods of heavy precipitation. (Rosenberger et al. 2021) With the global population continuing to increase, water resources are becoming ever more threatened by drivers of change, such as urbanisation, agricultural intensification, or climate change, that can be directly or indirectly attributed to human activity (Hutchins et al. 2018). Urban flooding is one of the key global challenges of the twenty-first century, with future flood risk being exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and ageing infrastructure. By 2050, 68% of the world’s population is expected to reside in cities, elevating flood risk to people, property, and critical infrastructure systems, including transport, communications, and energy, and increasing pressure on already overburdened drainage and water management infrastructure. (O’Donnell & Thorne, 2020).
The most alarming feature of floods is their rising human toll, but they also have huge economic repercussions Last year, the average annual cost of droughts, floods, and storms was $2242 billion, nearly twice as much as the average annual cost between 2001 and 2020 of $1178 billion (GHD, 2022) As the human and financial losses caused by floods continue to escalate, nations around the world will need to focus on preventative infrastructure and restorative solutions for ecosystems and communities already devastated and most at risk of flooding (Visual Capitalist, 2022)
1.2Relationship between urbanizationandwater resilience
In the face of rising human pressure and encroachment from urbanisation, urban ecosystems must enhance their resilience that is, shock tolerance, self-adaptation, and resilience to aftershocks to completely remove and absorb these disturbances (Shaojian, et al 2022)
"Resilience" refers to having the capacity to return to a previous state. Holling (1973) was the first to apply the notion of resilience to the subdiscipline of system ecology to characterise the features of stable ecosystem systems The current study on urban resilience focuses on three areas:
(1) conceptual analysis of urban resilience,
(2) measurement of urban resilience, and
(3) theoretical framework for resilient urban planning(Shaojian, et al 2022)
Furthermore, demographic, and economic urbanisation have accelerated the alteration of urban and rural landscapes, referred to as spatial urbanisation, which is primarily manifested by increases in both urban development density and scale. The uncontrolled growth of construction land would invariably intrude on natural space and harm size resilience. Irrational arrangement of urban development land and ecological space weakens the permeability of ecological elements in the built environment and reduces morphological resilience As a result, sensible spatial management is a powerful tool for mitigating the impact of urbanisation on size and morphological resilience (Shaojian, et al, 2022).
The concept of urban resilience emerged lately in response to the necessity to consider how to deal with environmental, social, and economic change. There is ample evidence on resource consumption and emissions, biodiversity, and land use change showing cities are accountable for a significant portion of the unsustainable trends that drive the globe past its natural bounds Given that urban population is predicted to expand by 25% by 2050, resulting in a worldwide population of 93 billion, cities' contribution to these difficulties is likely to continue. With urbanisation serving as a primary driver of global environmental change, it is critical that urban policy be aligned to address both regional and global environmental issues. The second urban challenge is the outcome of the quick and extensive globalisation that has occurred in the previous three decades Finally, the third problem of addressing climate change vulnerability and natural disasters demands cities to act on both mitigation and adaptation to climate change (Olazabal, et al., 2012).
The greenness of European cities has increased by 38% in the last 25 years, with 44% of Europe's populationnowlivingwithin300metresofapublicpark. (Sweco, 2020)
The European Union declared a climate emergency in 2019 because the previous two decades featured 18 of the warmest years on record. Despite fast intervention, it is expected that the climate will create more extreme weather events in the next decades. Cities are becoming more populous, and many European villages are becoming denser at the same time (Sweco, 2020). Cities are expanding quickly, posing new problems and opportunities as well as necessitating the development of new instruments.
Many governments have adopted the planning concept of densifying existing urban areas, though often combinedwith targeted urban expansion, to support growth and create sustainable cities
Urban Densification aims:
2.1Challenges offlooding inLondon
Climate change and development/infrastructure projects in high-risk locations have increased the frequency and intensity of flood hazards globally, increasing their duration and making them more unpredictable and catastrophic. Floods have been the most serious natural disasters in Europe for over a century. According to the European Environment Agency (2018), there were 1564 big flood hazardous events in Europe between 1870 and 2016, with flash floods accounting for the majority of these.
As a significant global city, London will be affected by climate change during the next century (AM, 2019). Surface water flooding is London's most serious flood risk, threatening around 164,000 houses in 2020, with the number predicted to climb to 360,000. In a drought, however, low water pressure affects 30% of London's buildings (AM, 2019) Moreover, London is in the driest section of the country and may face drought if regular rainfall fails to recharge reservoirs and groundwater aquifers (Greater London Authority, 2018). The Greater London area has a high percentage of paved areas, which contributes to increased surface runoff of water However, the presence of impermeable London clay makes water entry into the ground even more difficult. Furthermore, many London neighbourhoods are subject to river (fluvial) flooding. Because London has the greatest concentration of people, residences, and critical infrastructure, its flooding effects are more severe (Jenkins, et al, 2018) Furthermore, London's population is expected to rise rapidly in the next years, adding to the already overburdened urban drainage systems and increasing exposure. Following the massive flooding in the United Kingdom in 2007, significant efforts were made to improve pluvial flooding modelling, forecasting, and management (Greater London Authority, 2015)
One of the most important short-term climate hazards to Greater London is surface water flooding, which is recognised as the most likely source of flood tragedy Between 2001 and 2011, more residential properties were vulnerable to surface water flooding, and more urban space (up to 70% in some London boroughs) was covered with man-made surfaces. Because there is a paucity of undeveloped property in London that is not otherwise maintained for recreational or environmental purposes, over 96% of recent new projects in London have been on brownfield sites. Many of the accessible brownfield development sites, however, are in flood basins(Jenkins et al. 2018).
London's diverse governance structure, which is made up of numerous governmental organisations, governing bodies, and stakeholders, is responsible for ensuring water resilience.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)develops the national flood risk management plan, which includes surface water flooding policies and works on a broader scale looking at different policies These are followed by the Environmental Agency that outlines the Flood Risk Management Plans and the Urban Water Management Plans that outline strategies and measures to manage flood risk including surface water flooding. The Lead Local Flood Authorities are responsible for helping people make their homes more flood resilient.
On a local level different district and borough councils, water and sewerage companies and different community and environmental groups run Local Flood Risk Management Strategies, SuDs strategies and Local Flood Action Groups respectively.
Projects like the Drain London Project led in partnership by the Mayor the Environment Agency, Thames Water and the London Councils are examples of successful Surface Water Management Plans funding 20 high flood risk areas (Mayor of London, 2018). After funding from DEFRA the London Sustainable Drainage Action Plan developed to facilitate further collaboration (Mayor of London, 2018)
2.3Gaps andopportunities inimplementing water resilience.
Upon analysis of the different policies and the different stakeholders, gaps are identified within the resilience framework that includes inconsistency in the actual implementation of the water resilience policies on the ground level. It is observed that most of these policies lay regulations on a large-scale intervention rather than a neighbourhood or a street scale Moreover, due to lack of integration of resilience within the policy framework, there is a lack of funding and community participation for such initiatives. Lack of coordination among diverse stakeholders, such as urban planners, engineers, environmental experts, and community organisations, may hinder the development of holistic solutions.
However, several opportunities arose that include scope for public-private partnerships, adaptive planning strategies, scope for revision of policies, an opportunity to create awareness amongst people by different community led initiatives etc.
National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy
National Infrastructure Commission(NIC) EnvironmentAgency
an independent body that provides advice to the government on infrastructure issues
Flood Risk Management Plans and Urban Water Management Plans
LeadLocalFlood Authorities
Preparing flood risk management plans
Providing grants to help people make their homes more flood resilient
Officeofwater services(Ofwat)
Setting standards for water companies' surface water drainage systems
Waterandsewerage companies
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Strategies
DistrictandBorough Councils
Local Flood Risk Management Strategies
Communityand Environmental Groups
Local Flood Action Groups (FLAGs)
3.1Housing Crisis inLondon
The population of London increased by 40%, between 1997 and 2016. According to the London Housing Strategy, just 470,000 new dwellings were created throughout the same period, adding only 15% to the housing supply The new London Plan has set an aim of 52,000 new dwellings every year (Christou, 2021). Reported by the Evening Standard, one in every 50 Londoners is now homeless, and the city's housing problem has become "unmanageable." According to figures collected by the cross-party umbrella organisation London Councils, boroughs are hosting nearly 170,000 individuals in temporary homes, including 83500 children. The councils have asked the government to enhance the Local Housing Allowance to help individuals meet their rents, as well as support for councils purchasing housing from private landlords and an increase in homelessness prevention grant cash (Evening Standard, 2023).
3.2Estateregeneration inLondon
Regenerating London's housing estates could help alleviate the capital's housing shortfall Already underway estate regeneration projects are expected to expand housing stock on these sites by 151%, with 48% of these new dwellings matching affordable housing standards (Christou, 2021) Estate regeneration in London provides an unprecedented chance to assist address the capital's critical housing problem while also providing better houses, strengthening neighbourhoods, and improving lives (Linchfields, 2021). Currently, close to 130 regeneration projects are underway within London (Greater LondonAuthority, 2023)
The advantages of well-executed estate regeneration are numerous and diverse.
4.1Resilience thinking
A resilience thinking approach studies how to best manage these interconnected systems of people and nature in the face of shocks, surprises, and uncertainty We define resilience as a system's ability to deal with change and continue to evolve, whether it be an individual, a forest, a city, or an economy
By operating on all phases of a planning process, such as processing, implementation, management, the integration of resilience thinking with the principles of urban metabolism improves the quality and effectiveness of environmental, social, and economic sustainability strategies actions The concepts and strategies more geared to the management of complex systems under uncertainty and the formulation of solutions where stakeholders are most involved and bottom activities and actions that are largely considered are widely used in resilience thinking. The concepts and technologies most directed to the integrated and sustainable management of the resources impacting a territorial system are widely distributed through the concept of urban metabolism.
4.2Water Sensitive UrbanDesign
The practise of integrating water cycle management with the built environment through planning urban design is referred to as "water sensitive urban design." Water Sensitive Urban Design provides the opportunity to create appealing, successful, and resilient communities To provide integrated solutions for flood risk management, sustainable water use and supply, and water quality improvement in our cherished watercourses, the interplay between water and our urban areas must be prioritised (Morgan, et al, 2013)
• Water-sensitive apartment buildings: These include interventions such as green roofs, backyard gardening, the installation of a greywater recycling plant, adaptable green spaces etc (Morgan, et 2013)
• Water sensitive in newer constructions: An on-site water recycling plant, blue green corridors around the site, wetlands, in addition to a water cycle analysis, and the delivery of high-quality waterefficient dwellings can all contribute to attaining water resilience in newer developments. (Morgan, et al. 2013)
• Water sensitive cities: Summer water parks, urban flood plains, adaptable river borders, flood resilient housing, and other measures could ensure water sensitive cities. (Morgan, et al., 2013)
4.3People Centred Approach
Human-centered design in urban planning is informed by human values, including a desire for health and happiness They construct spaces where neighbours are likely to cross paths and communicate, and they do so in a way that encourages these neighbours to look out for and support one another. Such neighbourhoods also provide a variety of activities that keep people's minds fresh and bright, providing them with a naturally healthier, safer, and more fascinating stage on which to play out their lives (Guy Perry, 2019)
5.1ResearchApproach
5.1.1ResearchAim:
The research aims at assessing the current conditions of an existing neighbourhood and its estate regeneration plans. It identifies the benefits of regeneration, the policies that govern it and the impacts of the externalities generated due to the process of urbanization, development of existing water infrastructure and climate change.
The goal is to formulate a new adaptive resilience planning framework through a ‘Design-led research’ method. This new framework shall help in generating guidelines and tools that consider the urban impact of the estate regeneration and densification, to achieve resilience integrating the formal and self-organized informal institutions
5.1.2IntendedOutput:
This research aims to understand the challenges in urban densification that impact the urban land pressure with an Adaptive Resilience Planning Framework As a conceptual project, to formulate and analyse the new planning framework, the estate regeneration project of Teviot Estate at Poplar is studied for different sections of the development to achieve an integrated, people centric and water resilient development.
For Government: The outcome of the adaptive resilience framework shall help in inculcating water sensitivity in planning policies, making it more adaptable and people centric. The approach will encourage local authorities and their adaptation with a possibility of applying these strategies to different estate regeneration plans across different boroughs
For Communities: The design tools and guidelines developed by the process of the research within the new vision, design and strategies shall help in creating sensitivity amongst the communities encouraging them to support water resilience and thus creating a participatory approachtowards resiliency.
For Environment: With the adaptive resilience approach, the ability of a neighbourhood to withstand varying climate conditions increases thus ensuring ecological balance. This in the long term helps in reducing the negative externalities that are impacting climate change.
5.1.3ResearchQuestion:
‘How can adaptive infrastructure help to increase water resilience with urban densification in different urban neighbourhoods of London through an Adaptive Resilience Planning Framework?’
5.1.4EthicalStatement:
There were no major ethical issues discovered during the research because it did not entail active dialogues with persons. However, the following considerations were made:
• If necessary, obtain informed consent from all individuals participating in the research procedure.
• Observations were conducted without invadinganyone's privacy
• All papers accessible were obtained via the internet and were freely available
• Observed confidentiality by not disclosing identities or any potential methods of identification without explicit agreement.
UNDERSTANDINGTHEEXISTINGPHENOMENON:
• Flood Data Collection of Londonand the potential site in the borough
• Studying the different external influences and their direct and indirect impacts on the flooding scenario
• Analyzing the regeneration plans in terms of their capacity to withstand harsh weathers.
• Site Analysis of the site and the surrounding areas to understand the overall nature of the site
PROBLEMATISATION:
• Evaluatingthe issues, potential constants and variables associated with water resilience
WATERRESILIENTAPPROACH:
• Developing a Resilient thinking coherent to estate regeneration
WATERRESILIENCEACROSSSCALES:
• Understandingresilience across scales
• Evaluatingpolicies and stakeholder engagement
DESIGNINGFORWATERRESILIENCE:
• Designing strategies around the site.
• Proposing a vision that informs water resilience in urban neighborhoods across various scales backed by policies and people participation/
PREPARINGAFRAMEWORK:
• Evaluationof the benefits of the study.
• Proposing a retrofitting framework of green infrastructure and other design inputs across the site.
Estate Regeneration
Housing crisis
Pressure on land
Densification induced extremities
Increase in population
Spatial crisis Extremities
Climate change induced extremities
Water Resilience + Estate Regeneration (Co-existence of both)
Rapid urbanisation Water based urbanism
Can estate regeneration ensure increase in water resilience simultaneously
Achieving water Resilience across scales VISION STRATEGIES
Stakeholder engagement
Designing water resilience for an existing estate regeneration
Guiding framework +
Water resilience
Urban pressure Land deterioration Floods
Adaptability
Urban areas are adaptable to transit, peak demand, population growth, shifting user requirements, advancing technology, various user kinds, and natural calamities They should be able to adapt to the current needs because of the shifting social, cultural, technological, and economic situations To build liveable spaces that meet users' needs in the development path, there must be differences between uses. A system that uses an adaptive method must be able to offer numerous chances and pathways. Therefore, flexibility in design and planning is necessary to be able to accommodate a variety of potential adaption scenarios. Rethinking local scales is crucial for adaptation to climate change
Cognizance
The overall standard of life within an urban region can be better improved by community engagement, as opposed to decision-making at a higher level without cooperation This is especially true regarding the design of public spaces. (Ismail & Said, 2015) Design strategies must effectively encourage users to be more sensitive to water resilience. The varied population should be taken into consideration while designing water-centric infrastructure and planning. Additionally, the community will be a key player in the planning and decision-making processes as the instilled water sensitivity and awareness compels them to prioritize the resilient approach. To build for resilience, community-based design and public participation are essential.
Connectedness
To achieve resilience within the system, design for all scales and analyse the effects of intervention at various scales are required. To achieve resilience, it is crucial to build coordination across levels and across various sectors, such as water management and urban planning.
7.1SiteAnalysis
7.1.1 Site Context and Information
The Teviot Estate lies in the Tower Hamlets Borough of London, near Poplar which is all set to undergo an estate regeneration in the form of a community-led development. The development will shape the neighbourhood, with parks and play areas, supporting healthy living and greater connectivity across Teviot and the surrounding area, in addition to contemporary, safe, energyefficient homes (BPTW, 2023). For the East of the Borough, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH) is creating an Area Action Plan (AAP), which will include site allocations and planning guidelines. Most of the AAP area is also included in the Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2031's Lower Lea Valley sub-area, which has a minimum capacity of 5,748 additional houses throughout the subarea Within the AAP region, Leven Road and Ailsa Wharf have been designated as two Local Plan site allocations (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
712
Physical Features
Within a low-lying river basin is the study area Westward and northward are the directions in which the ground rises. In the study region, some of the non-linear roads follow the land's contours (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
713 Environmental Features
Flooding
Flooding is an important factor. A significant portion of the site is in zone 3a, which indicates a high likelihood of flooding. These locations shouldn't be used for any 'extremely vulnerable' purposes, such as crucial infrastructure. The risk of flooding must be evaluated. There is a potential for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
Biodiversity
The study area includes several open green spaces and three different kinds of waterways. Environmental designations, green infrastructure, and blue infrastructure are all lacking in bigger green open spaces. Waterways have nature classifications attached to them. Opportunities to increase the diversity and connectivity of green places (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
Jhanvi Patel | Bartlett School of Planning,
7.2SWOTAnalysis
The estate regeneration presents as a strength for the potential to improve the current condition of the estate The people’s participation has been very appalling and their interest in the building of the estate has been presented as a positive sign in order to carry out a community-led regeneration as advertised by Poplar HARCA and Hill Group with 86% in support of the proposed regeneration (Poplar London, 2021). The presence of scattered green spaces can potentially emerge as an asset for the regeneration plan.
However, with the increase in the population there is also an increase in the pressure on land with more people living in the same area. The Limehouse cut canal is poorly maintained with no access to the water body and hence there is a negligence Additionally, the pedestrian access is not uniform throughout the estate with many poor street legibility.
The regeneration presents numerous opportunities of introducing smaller green pockets, improving connections between the different parts of the estate and better living conditions for the people Densification may lead to car dependency and impermeability leading to a lack of character within the space which could be improved with proper planning and implementation of the design
Opportunitiespresentedinthedensificationproposal:
For the estate, several important design principles have been created. With the help of this opportunity plan, new and existing residents will be provided with a cohesive and integrated neighbourhood(Allies and Morrisons, 2021).
• Enhancing Langdon Park: Both the Teviot Estate itself and the surrounding area's Langdon Park are important green spaces (Allies and Morrisons, 2021).
• Connection from East to West: A crucial step should be to strengthen the current principal east/west Zetland Street as the hub of the new neighbourhood This should be made a clearer path to the station and park, and any mature trees that are already there should be left alone (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
• Positively addressing the A12: Improving the interface with the A12 and enhancing permeability would need strengthening frontage and shielding usage with a buffer of landscape and well-plannedconstruction (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
• The front and rear: A street network that is readable and feels safe and unnoticed will be produced by finishing blocks by ensuring new development has distinct fronts and backs, as is the case along Teviot Street (Allies and Morrisons, 2021)
• A clear grid: A street network that is generally uncluttered and uncomplicated, with blocks that directly face streets and create strong linkages with the neighbourhood around them (Allies and Morrisons, 2021).
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESS
OPPORTUNITIES
Wateredgecondition
Hardscape on the water bank with a restricted access.
Sharedopenspaces
These green spaces are shared amongst the residents in the housing complex.
A12
Hard edge at the A12 because with all the buildings facing inwards
The estate has 535 within the Poplar HARCA out of which 370 are tenanted and about 165 are leasehold properties (Allies and Morrisons, 2021). Currently the estate has approximately 30% (46,500 sq.m approximately) green space which is divided amongst private and public green spaces.
Upon regeneration 1535 houses are added with high-rise and low-rise buildings on the edge of A12 and within the Teviot estate respectively (Poplar HARCA , 2023). The number of greens increased marginally to about 32% (49,400 sq.m approximately) as compared to the threefold increases in the number of households..
Wateredgecondition
Adding activities on the water edge to increase social interaction.
Sharedopenspaces
The private green spaces have become more inward looking.
A12
The edge has become comparatively softer with the addition of green buffer spaces.
PublicPark
PublicPark
PublicPark
PublicPark
Jhanvi Patel | Bartlett School of Planning, UCL
8.1Conceptual Framework
8.1.1 Pillars of conceptualization
The strategies are supported by three pillars that set the framework for what might be done on the ground. These pillars consist of stakeholder engagement, people-centric approaches, and water resilience These strategies are further elaborated with a set of possible interventions that can be adopted. The set of possible actions within each strategy are few ways to implement the vision at various locations around the estate.
A process that places people, or end-users, at the centre of the process is referred to as "people-centric urban planning."
Urban planning that is people-centric creates prototypes and solutions by doing embedded qualitative and quantitative research on the same individuals and end users (Smart cities library, 2020)
8.1.2 Chosen site condition
'Resilience is a system's ability to withstand inundation and reorganise in the face of physical damage and socioeconomic upheaval.(Salina s Rodriguez et al, 2014)
Individual ideas of people and stakeholders must be accommodated in the design of urban environments, which can only be realised if efficient communication, involvement, and feedback mechanisms are in place (Ferreira et al 2020)
For execution of the design strategies to devise a framework different site conditions are chosen within the estate differ in their location, land use and nature of the space.
Site 1: Edge condition: The potential site for an edge condition implementation is at the edge of Limehouse cut where there is a proposal for a Canal Square.
Site 2: Public Space: The Teviot Square located at the centre of the estate plan acts as a site for intervention on a public space.
Site 3: Street condition: The Teviot Street that runs vertically within the estate acts as a site for designing water resilient strategies along the street.
Site 4: Private Space: The small pockets in between the residences in the densified plan become a potential intervention for water resilient design implementation ideologies.
Site 5: Park: The Langdon Park within the estate acts as a water sponge helping in flood mitigation Introducing strategies to further amplify the water absorption of the park can help in increasing the water resilient capacity of the park.
Site 1: Edge Condition, Canal Square
Site Condition 4: Private Space
Site Condition 3: Teviot Street
Site Condition 2: Public Space, Teviot Square
Site Condition 5: Langdon Park
Addressing the water feature by enhancing the nature of the square by making it water resilient
The existing green infrastructure retrofitted with flood resilient features increasing the capacity of the green space to absorb more water
Adding a shared feature for the greater good of the social cohesion between the communities
Adding a feature of shared feature for the greater good of the social cohesion between the communities
Addressing the public square as a water feature that adds up to the water collectionsystem enhancing the quality of the space
8.3Spatial actions anddesign interventions
8.3.1Strategy1:Naturalizingthewateredge
Softening of the canal edge by adding a natural softscape slope can help in flood mitigation. Use of soli bags as soft embankment protecting the edge and at the same time allowing for the water to percolate is an effective challenge to combat the problems of water resilience. The pocket park introduced at Canal Square becomes an attractive space and helps in establishing a connection with water inviting more people into the space and thus cultivating sensitivity towards water It is extremely desirable to rejuvenate the watercourse to increase the area's attractiveness and environmental value while also offering the river as a resource for the upcoming development on the site (Urban & Environmental DesignTeam, 2013)
The Canal Square will provide amenities and serve as a gathering place for the neighbourhood’s residents who are located within the development's dense urban fabric, much to the Porter Brook Pocket Park, a little public open space on the bank of the Porter Brook (Sheffield Society of Architects, 2018)
Designintervention
Public space for interaction
According to the densification plan
Softscape, naturalising the edge
Waterresilientstrategies:
The land edge is angled to point downstream reducing erosion. Pavement is made to be durable and have good drainage. The green lawns with trees encourage flood drainage (Yu, 2013)
Stakeholderengagement:
The Environment Agency Is responsible for the flood risk area The Lee 2100 plan seeks to provide a new flood risk management strategy for the upper and lower Lea rivers and their tributaries within the river Lee basin (Environment Agency, 2022). Ongoing investments from Hill and Poplar HARCA encourage different public activities within the estate as a part of their regeneration plan (Poplar HARCA 2023)
PeopleCentricApproach:
Initiatives like “Paddles sports for women” are encouraged within the estate to improve the connection between water and the people of the estate (Poplar HARCA , 2023). Festivals organized by different local groups such as Spotlight, Leaders in Community and WellOne can be an interesting way to gain people’s attention towards the canal and create sensitivity for water.
KEYTAKEAWAYS: Canal Square
PLAN
Water based activities
While designing for an edge of a water body, the entire space must not be impermeable A sense of permeability is essential to allow for the water to flow and prevent surface water run-off. Trees must be strategically planned and the slope must be adequately designed to prevent soil erosion and facilitate water flow
The Government’s policies for the flood mitigation of the various water bodies can be implemented by collaborating with different stakeholders in for the greater good of flood mitigation and aesthetics.
Creating access to the water body by introducing activities in and around benefits in attracting people to the canal Active signages and innovative design solutions help in creating a public space at the edge.
Adding a water square that acts as recreational feature within the public space of the estate can act as an effective way to collect water and help in surface water flood mitigation. The introduction of such features on a big or smaller scale can not only help in the direction and collection of excess water but at the same time it can act as an excellent space for people to gather around during the occasional dry spells in the London weather.
The two-fold strategy inspired by the Water Square Benthemplein, Rotterdam, Netherlands has a potential to improve the neighbourhood’s central places' atmosphere and identity. The water square is typically dry and in use as a recreational area serving as a vibrant location for young people with lots of space for play (De Urbanisten, n.d.).
Designintervention
SCENARIO 1
According to the densification plan
A public space for recreation
Waterresilientstrategies:
The water diverted to the square channels surface water, allowing it to gather in one location and operate as a water feature Rainwater that falls on the square drains into the basins via massive stainless-steel gutters installed over it. (De Urbanisten, n.d.).
Stakeholderengagement:
The LLFA in collaboration with the borough councils and their planners and urban designers can help in establishing a water square (Local Government Association, 2023). The Hill Group and Poplar HARCA could inculcate this water feature in their design proposal. The Teviot Estate Development LLP has contributed cash for a Community Chest Fund, which is used to support local community projects and initiatives
PeopleCentricApproach:
The organizing of various festivals like the Teviot festival, celebration of Eid helps in people interaction These activities can vary according to the nature of the square. The flexibility of using the space in numerous ways and the temporal nature of the square makes it multifunctional.
KEYTAKEAWAYS: Teviot Square
Stormwater collection square
SCENARIO 2
Activities around a public square
Channelisingof the water to the square
The public spaces can be included with the flood water mitigation framework in such a way that smart design interventions can solve dual purposes of serving the water management with a recreational feature.
The policies for surface water management must be combined with design ideas from people and different stakeholders within the public realm for a successful implementation of a design.
Including a temporal design feature adds a sense of curiosity making the space a multipurpose space and ensuring that the space gets across different weather conditions throughout the year. KEYPLAN
3:Designingthestreetforresilience
Introduction of sustainable drainage techniques on the pavements can help in overcoming flood resilience. Planter beds and pocket parks can aid with local rainwater absorption while also creating public areas that are easily accessible to all Thus, narrowing bigger streets or constructing larger sidewalks while developing new neighbourhoods can make it easier to incorporate pocket parks into planning.
Designintervention
According to the densification plan
Pocket parks at different locations
Permeable pavements on the pedestrian accessed footpath
Bioswales across the road in a linear manner
Planter beds along the pocket parks for water absorption
Waterresilientstrategies:
The sustainable drainages on either side of the main road acts as a sponge soaking in all the excess surface water from the road Introduction of Bioswales, pocket parks and planter beds are different types of flood soaking mechanisms that help in percolating rainwater installed over it (De Urbanisten, nd)
Stakeholderengagement:
The use of SuDs forms a part of the existing policies resonating with the Sustainable Drainage Vision for London that is aiming to manage its rainwater more sustainably to reduce flood risk vision by 2040 (Greater London Authority, 2015).The policies are in sync with the UK’s National Planning Policy Framework to increase sustainable drainage techniques within the UK.
PeopleCentricApproach:
Designing of pocket Parks along the main road of Teviot Street acts as a breather for the residents. Teviot regeneration is dedicated to providing social value to the local community (Hill Group, 2023) that can be added by creating spaces that encourage human interaction.
KEYPLAN
KEYTAKEAWAYS: Teviot Street
Presence of smaller green spaces at different locations around the estate helps in preventing the accumulation of water in smaller areas by directing into the smaller pocket parks. This is an easy and effective method to mitigate smaller flooding incidents.
There must be a policy mandate on the use of permeable paving on both the sides of the road to effectively reduce flooding The SuDs vision must be implemented effectively to reduce the flood risks.
Creating spaces in the proximity of human movement zones helps in enabling social interactions and gathering people together for a greater good The presence of such other half spaces in between the built environment effectively draws people towards sensitivity to nature
A stormwater harvesting network shared among the different residents within a smaller complex of the neighbourhood is an effective way to mitigate stormwater flooding. Water entering watercourses is reduced, lowering the risk of downstream flooding This method encourages a shared approach among the residents. Addition of wetlands provides a natural environment for water capture and filtration, as well as potential aquifer recharging. Strategic retrofitting of the block of flats in the neighbourhood along with water resilient features can help reduce flooding to a great extent (Arup, 2013).
Designintervention
According to the densification plan
Waterresilientstrategies:
Rain gardens on the roofs of the buildings help in the collection of rainwater directing it to the shared stormwater management facility that is shared amongst different flats. The constructed wetlands, addition of balcony gardens can help in storm water mitigation at the time of flooding. The water is percolated to a storage tank located at the bottom of the central green space helping in flood mitigation
Stakeholderengagement:
The involvement of the people is crucial as their consent in sharing the rainwater is essential This would drive the rainwater harvesting of the space. Provision of concession in water tax for giving consent is a smart way to get more people involved in the shared system.
PeopleCentricApproach:
Conducting workshops and education tours for kids creates awareness about the stormwater management within the neighbourhood
KEYTAKEAWAYS: Private Space
When the concept of water resilience is brought into the private realm, there is a greater sensitivity towards water Strategies based out of a balcony, to a private garden, shared stormwater management can help in creating a joint impact on flood resilience along with providing for water in the absence of rains
The rainwater harvesting policies with the involvement of residents can help in mitigating flood risks better along with ensuring water supply for the drought season.
Creating awareness among people is necessary in order for them to accept the change and contribute to flood resilience
The different green spaces scattered across the regeneration estate can be connected in a manner that it gets easily accessed by all the residents. The bigger parks within the estate could act to densify the green cover Integrating SuDS characteristics and changing the way green areas are used by including new walkways, landscapes, and play aspects can have a good impact on a neighbourhood. SuDS in green spaces inside crowded metropolitan areas can also be used to cool nearby structures SuDS features on or around buildings (eg, rain gardens) aid in cooling by evaporating rainwater from surfaces and transpiration by plants. In both the summer and winter, these improved characteristics provide a healthier and more comfortable living environment (Mayor of London, nd)
Designintervention
running around the entire park
According to the densification plan
Permeable playgrounds
Waterresilientstrategies:
Different features within the green spaces helps in flood mitigation Permeable playgrounds, swales, rain gardens at different locations, densifying the existing green cover by planting new trees etc. SuDS installed in parks and green spaces can decrease the flow and lessen the quantity of surface water runoff that might cause floods to nearby houses and businesses (Mayor of London, nd)
Stakeholderengagement:
Possible funding opportunities from the Greater London Authority for greener communities and spaces, the local wildlife and river trusts; and the charitable organizations could help in the maintenance and improvement of the green spaces (Mayor of London, n.d.).
PeopleCentricApproach:
Participation of people by organizing different initiative like the Eco fest Leaders in Community (LiC) in collaboration with the Women's Environmental Network's (WEN) JUST FACT network, marked a crucial step towards a greener, healthier, and more sustainable estate (Poplar HARCA , 2023)
KEYTAKEAWAYS: Private Space
Using the existing green space, park or any other natural feature to its full potential is one of the most economical ways of implementing flood resilience within an urban neighbourhood. Densifying and strategically adding different features within the already existing greens can help in improving the water absorption capacity
Bringing a variety of stakeholder who work at the local, regional, and national level is an effective way to generate funding that works in the best interests of all those involved in the flood management system.
Extenuating the existing greens to improve their use and at the same time creating activities that generate interests across generations is a beneficial way of getting more attention towards water resilience.
Based on the different design explorations an evaluation of all the different factors that need to be considered and that could possibly help in tackling the issues of stormwater management is made
Upon conducting various approximations and calculations, the total estate area of approximately 155000 sqm contains about 38492 sqm of green cover in the form of proposed parks, community greens etc About 25,000 sqm of the area could become permeable if the homes are constructed as green homes. Additionally, about 6000 sq.m in the form of driveways and walkways and 25,000 sq.m in the form of existing greens add to the permeable water absorbing area of the estate.
The condition of the site, its topography, flood zones and drainage pattern assessment form a part of the initial site-specific analysis that drives the course of the analysis and design. The sustainable urban design interventions such as permeable surfaces, retrofitting of the green infrastructure, flood resilient strategies for building design adhering to the water resilient principles are essential tools to tackle flood resilience. Integrating of rainwater harvesting systems and its reuse and assessment of the existing is necessary to combat heavy rainfall events. Projections for the changing climate and adaptation of the design elements to accommodate the change is a key factor for a successful estate regeneration to take place. Along with the design principles, it is also essential that the community engagement is inclusive, and it actively engages with the local communities by understanding their needs and concerns regarding water resilience. Educational programs to raise awareness about water resilience and an encouragement towards the sustainable water practices among residents needs to be considered. The plans must comply with the local, regional, and national policies and regulations It must be assessed whether the plan benefits from supportive policies, incentives and different funding mechanisms that encourage water resilient design
The Teviot Estate regeneration is a community-led regeneration that works in the interest of its people with the collaborative efforts from the different stakeholders including government bodies, developers, planners, and community groups to ensure a coordinated approachto water resilience.
Such an evaluation of estate regeneration plans on water resilient design principles is essential to create a resilient sustainable and adaptable urban environment These different factors ensure that plans not only address the immediate water challenges but also contribute to the long-term wellbeing and resilience of communities.
9.2Retrofitting framework forwater resilience
According to the evaluation and with considerations of different factors a framework is established that helps in determining the how in an estate regeneration with densification, water resilience can still be achieved. The three important pillars form the base that is essential in ensuring water resilience.
Site Conditions Water resilience Stakeholder engagement People centric approach
• Install soft embankment with flood resilient materials along with planting of trees to act as natural buffers and prevent soil erosion.
• Incorporate multifunctionality of public spaces by ensuring water resilience and recreation. Temporary activities and installations help in mitigating rainwater.
• Introduce green spaces wherever possible on the streets to ensure their permeability. Integrate trees within the pocket parks to manage stormwater management.
• Promote green roof installations and shared rainwater harvesting system within the neighbourhoodto manage stormwater, recommend porous driveways to reduce run off.
• Use the existing available green infrastructure to its full potential to ensure that maximum water absorption takes place.
• Flood mitigation policies for embankments can support the design vision for water resilience.
• Create a visual and physical access to water increases sensitivity and awareness towards water.
• Implement Surface water management policy at a grass root level to contribute to water resilience.
• Ensure multifunctionality of the public space for the maximum utilization of the space throughout the year.
• Incorporate SuD vision efficiently with permeable paving on both the sides of the road to ensure maximum percolation of rainwater.
• Uniquely engineered and innovatively designed rainwater harvesting systems can encourage more people to adopt these methods.
• Enable social interactions in the small green spaces to encourage their interests in water.
• Incentivize, reduce taxes and create awareness amongst people willing to incorporate flood mitigation techniques within their households.
• Effectively implement policies that co-exist between local and regional authorities and collaborate with local bodies to generate funding and maintainingthe flood management system.
• Create activities for everyone within the estate to attract them to the green spaces thus educating them and generating awareness.
The new estate regeneration plan did have an increase in the number of green spaces allowing by approximately 2%. This increase was insignificantly small as compared to the triple increase in the number of residents. The pressure on the land is much greater and needs to be addressed with a variety of water resilient strategies to ensure that water resilience of the estate is not hampered.
After calculations of the different results obtained as a part of the framework, it is formulated that with the implementation of the derived toolkit, along with 32% green space cover throughout the estate, there was an additional impermeability of about 4% of the total area in the form of green alleys, driveways, and walkways It was inferred that if all the regenerative houses used green infrastructure such as green roofs, an approximate of 16% of the total estate area would get added into the green acres. Furthermore, the existing green parks add up to 13% more estate area into the green cover area.
In conclusion, designing for adaptability and implementing a retrofitting framework for water resilience in London estate regeneration plans represents a proactive and innovative approach to addressing the complex challenges posed by urbanisation, climate change, and ageing infrastructure The retrofitting framework we've discussed in this exploration embodies a holistic and forward-thinking strategy. It recognizes that urban areas are not static entities but dynamic ecosystems with ever-changing needs and demands By focusing on adaptability, the framework acknowledges the importance of designing solutions that can evolve and respond to emerging challenges The multidimensional character of water resilience was one of the important takeaways from our research. It's not only about stormwater management or flood prevention; it's about constructing sustainable, habitable, and resilient urban settings. The framework places a strong emphasis on the integration of diverse SuDS components, green infrastructure, and smart technologies
Furthermore, community interaction emerges as an important component of the framework. The active engagement and support of local communities is critical to the success of any water resilience retrofitting project Engaging residents, business owners, and other stakeholders generates a sense of ownership and responsibility, increasing the likelihood that the solutions developed will be well-maintained and effective over time. The adaptability of the toolkit enables urban planners and architects to create solutions that reflect the distinct character of each neighbourhood City planners, environmentalists, and lawmakers should all work together to advocate for legislative changes that promote sustainability, green practises, and resilience
