Updates on flood risk management for the communities of Allesley and Upper Eastern Green. This is a collaboration between The Environment Agency and Coventry City Council, with support from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust delivering Natural Flood Management.
Upper Eastern Green Lane Update - February 2024
There is a long history of fluvial (river) flooding in the Upper Eastern Green area from the Brookstray, including one event in 2008 and two events in 2016. Properties and businesses opposite the Broad Lane / Banner Lane junction and Goldthorn Close have been particularly affected. Surface water flooding and sewer flooding are also known to have caused issues in the wider area. In 2016, significant improvements were made to the drainage system at the Broad Lane / Banner Lane junction, built by the Council. The Environment Agency is currently finalising a fast-track business case for Property Flood Resilience (PFR) and Natural Flood Management (NFM). If approved, PFR installation will be undertaken by a contractor appointed by the Environment Agency. Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has also completed initial assessments of the upstream catchment for NFM and some small-scale delivery has been rolled out.
During the January severe rainfall, Broad Lane was partially flooded, however the improvements at the roundabout prevented flooding of homes at Goldthorn Close.
Allesley Update - February 2024
Property Flood Resilience
As a result of property surveys, PFR measures are now being installed at 26 homes in Allesley. This is enabled by funding secured by the Environment Agency (EA), Coventry City Council, and the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. Measures applied include flood resilient doors, service entry points, drainage non-return valves, puddle pumps and auto-closing air bricks which provide increased resilience to flood conditions. The EA has undertaken a door-to-door knocking exercise in May 2023 to ensure residents understand how to practice measures with PFR. The EA is also keen to identify opportunities where PFR has not been accepted.
Due to the channel overflow of the River Sherbourne, flooding occurs regularly in this area, however during the January severe rainfall, the resilience measures were seen to be successful.
Natural Flood Management
Following a pause due to Covid-19 between April and September, NFM works have recommenced in the river catchment upstream of Allesley, including 58 leaky barriers, 5 retention pools, 70 trees, 1800m of planted hedgerows and 2600m of stock fencing installed over several locations. These include:
- Slashpitts Farm,
- Springfield Farm,
- Hollyberry Lodge Farm,
- Elkin Wood, and
- The Heathers.
NFM can vary in its approach, from tree planting to leaky barriers on watercourses – however the dominant concept is to mimic natural processes to increase infiltration, increase interception and to reduce flows; therefore, decreasing flood risk. To discuss opportunities for NFM including how to get involved please contact: flooding@coventry.gov.uk
Download the Allesley November 2020 Newsletter for further information.
Wider River Catchment Update - May 2023
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has been leading a project in partnership with the Council, Severn Trent and other partners. The Sherbourne Valley Project has received support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and is at the delivery stage. The scheme aims to reconnect the people of Coventry with the river and its surrounding greenspaces, restore wildlife and provide the local community with education opportunities. £1.8 million has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help Warwickshire Wildlife Trust undertake the project over the next four years, with match funding from organisations including Coventry City Council, Severn Trent, and the EA.
For further information visit the River Sherbourne Valley Project web page.
Project Update - May 2023
Due to Coronavirus the arrangement of PFR (e.g. flood doors and adapted airbricks) and the delivery of NFM was temporarily paused. Further updates have been provided.
NFM tested - May 2023
June 2019 to February 2020 was exceptionally wet, with these conditions being exacerbated by storms Chiara and Dennis in February. According to data from Bablake Weather Station, monthly rainfall levels were above the 1991-2020 average every month, resulting in the wettest June – February period on record. This provided an excellent opportunity to survey the catchment when wet, and to test the performance of leaky barriers and other features installed. All the installed measures performed well, and most importantly no properties in Allesley reported internal flooding during this time.
The Council, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the EA all undertook a site visit in November 2022. Since this visit, the volume design capacity 10,000m3 of the scheme has been achieved. Measures are still planned for installation, with leaky barriers to be introduced, 175 metres of hedgerow to be planted and the additional integration of coppice where ponds have been found to be ineligible.
Contact us
To discuss opportunities for natural flood management including how to get involved please email Elisabeth.Larner@wkwt.org.uk or telephone 07495 486 917.
To discuss drainage or surface water please email flooding@coventry.gov.uk.
Useful links
- Environment Agency
- Floodline: 24-hour advice and information for floods and flood warnings: 0345 988 1188
- Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
- National Flood Forum
- Flood warnings
