Kennet Valley Park,
Reading, Berkshire, UK
The benefit of multi-functional solutions
Kennet Valley Park (KVP) is partially located in a flood plain up-river from the town of Reading. Due to its close proximity and positioning to transport links, it is an ideal place for a residential community. The key to unlocking the site is a robust flood management scheme.
However, the complexity of developing this location requires not just onsite flood protection but also mitigation due to the potential impact that the development can have on other sites at risk of flooding.
Our solution was to raise the development site and create a flood storage reservoir. Extracted material from an on-site gravel pit lake will form a raised platform to place development above the 1 in 1,000 year flood level. The lake will be an enhanced recreational site and a 3 million cubic metre raw water storage resource. A controlled release system on the lake will allow for gradual discharge of floodwater, providing better flood protection for Reading and, during droughts, mitigate negative effects on wildlife and the communities that depend on the river. These benefits and discussions with the EA are vital in the planning approval process.
Additional images
Did you know?
We see the benefit of multi-functional solutions by looking beyond the site to envision how a development impacts the surrounding area.
Services provided
- Air quality
- Civil engineering
- EIA
- Water management - hydrology, rivers
- Infrastructure
- Integrated transport solutions
- Transport
Project highlights
- Reclamation and regeneration of degraded land to create Reading’s largest sustainable community
- Significant benefits to the local community, including new housing, community facilities, employment opportunities and flood protection.
- Innovative design solutions to address flooding and transport issues