The information on this page has been provided by the Environment Agency and was correct at the time of upload.
The Environment Agency have reached an anniversary milestone in delivering the Flood Risk Management Scheme for the community of Kendal. This scheme will better protect homes and businesses from flooding and improve the local environment and community amenities. Construction started in Kendal one year ago, and is progressing well with a number of locations now better protected.
This briefing is to inform you of the Environment Agency’s plans to celebrate the anniversary of construction and how you can support them to continue to raise the awareness and the wider benefits that their scheme provides.
To download the Environment Agency Briefing, please click here.
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:
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.