The Flood Hub

Planning permission for the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme was granted in Summer 2019 as part of a wider three phase scheme designed to take a catchment based approach and protect the most vulnerable communities from flooding in the Kent Catchment. Kendal is the first phase being delivered with construction starting in February 2021. Below is a snapshot of some of the benefits of the scheme;

 

6km of defences through the town using a combination of walls finished mainly in local stone, grass embankments, and integrated sections of glass panels. With more than half of the defences set back from the riverside, access to existing open space and riverside views will be retained and improved.

 

 

At least 4000 trees will be planted through the town of a variety of species. Larger, semi-matured trees will be planted in places that are accessed the most. This is following a maximum of 500 trees in the town requiring removal, but the Environment Agency are working hard to reduce this number through ongoing detailed design.

 

 

55 hectares of improved habitat for wildlife and recreational space will be created for the community in two areas in Kendal and in the Upper Kent catchment.

 

 

Minimal in river works will be undertaken during construction as the majority of the Environment Agencys defences are set back from the rivers edge. This means the works will have little to no impact on the existing river environment.

 

 

Establishing up to 3km of new and improved riverside footpaths and exploring the opportunity for a further 6km of newly connected walking trails in the town.

 

 

The scheme is the stepping stone for a wider programme of enhancements to the town. Working in partnership, the Environment Agency will support other potential improvements to the area for the benefit of the local community and visitors to the town.

 

 

Since construction began in February 2021, the Environment Agency have completed works in five locations with works progressing in a number of others areas. This table provides a summary of these works;

 

Location	Construction Type	Community Improvements	Status
Dockray Hall	Improved foundations and strengthened existing flood wall	Footpath resurfacing with tree and shrub planting to provide improved riverside habitat	Complete
Romney Gardens	Raised flood walls	Footpath resurfacing and shrub planting providing improved riverside habitat	Complete
Natland Road /Ford Park	Raised kerbing and flood wall	Footpath resurfacing, new seating and extensive riverside planting of ornamental shrubs, seed mixes and trees	Complete
Clarks	Raised flood wall	Restored a previously hard surface to grassland and planted a mixture of trees and shrubs to the riverside	Complete
Helsington & Watercrook	Raised flood embankments, flood walls and road raising	Resurfaced an existing car park and undertaking extensive planting of shrubs and trees. A further 1000 trees will be planted in the next planting season by Kendal Conservation Volunteers.	Complete
Parish Church	Raised flood walls		In progress
Waterside Flats	Raised flood walls		In progress
Busher Walk & Benson Green	Flood embankment and raised flood walls		In progress
Beezon Fields	Landscaping for a new environmental and public amenity area		In progress

 

 

 

 

The Environment Agency are committed to leaving a lasting legacy for the community and visitors to Kendal. The Environment Agency are supporting a number of art and education initiatives to get the community involved with the development of the scheme. Here is a snapshot of the community involvement:

 

Engaging three local schools, seven local charity organisations and over 20 community volunteers, the Environment Agency took and potted over 2000 tree cuttings.

 

 

 

Working with three schools, one mental health charity, older residents of Kendal and four local artists, the Environment Agency are delivering inspired art which will feature in two key locations of the scheme.

 

 

Families joined the Environment Agency and planted over 50 seeds in decorative pots with the help of Love art Workshops and Kendal Conservation Volunteers as a ‘seed to 50 tree’ planting day.

 

 

 

Over 200 students from local schools have attended site visits and talks.

 

 

Over 60 children have creatively translated over the scheme key facts into posters.

The Environment Agency want to take this opportunity one year on, to celebrate the achievements that have been made, and to do this they will be running an intensive week of communications and engagement activity between 14 to 18 March 2022.

Here is a snapshot of what is planned and how you can find out more:

• Media Briefing – An opportunity for us to provide the media with an overview of what the scheme is delivering and to provide key messages which they can use when writing, or reporting on the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme.

 

• Environment Agency Press Release – Click here to download a copy of the Environment Agency press release.

 

• Twitter Takeover – Intensive social media presence during the week sharing key messages and highlights of the scheme. Follow the @EnvAgencyNW to keep up to date.

 

• VolkerEngage Takeover – The Volker Engage App will provide news and highlights of the scheme. Scan the QR code with your camera and download the app to your phone.

 

For more information, scheme key facts, blogs and more, all of this can be found on The Flood Hub’s Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme page here: www.thefloodhub.co.uk/kendal.