Labour Westminster Council is stepping up efforts to make the City more climate-resilient and people-friendly with a major investment in Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

Backed by £1.6 million of capital spending, the next phase of the SuDS Delivery Programme will bring more rain gardens, tree pits, and permeable paving to communities at the highest risk of flooding.

This makes SuDS a standard for new public realm schemes across the City, but will prioritise Maida Vale, Harrow Road and Queen’s Park – areas hit hard by flash floods in 2021.

It builds on Westminster Labour’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, which aims to capture and slow down rainwater before it overwhelms the Victorian sewer system, a vital step in adapting to more extreme weather caused by climate change.

A technical masterplan, developed with consultants WSP, has used data on flood history, housing types, and environmental factors to map Westminster into 14 drainage catchments and rank them by urgency.

What will be delivered?

• New SuDS projects to tackle flood risk street by street
• Rain gardens, permeable paving and tree pits designed to hold and slow water runoff
• SuDS included in wider public realm improvements, such as on Harrow Road and North Audley Street
• Community engagement to explain the benefits of SuDS and co-design schemes with residents
• £800k for priority flood-risk sites and £845k for enhancements to existing public realm schemes

Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development, said:

“This is what climate adaptation looks like in practice. practical, green interventions that reduce flood risk and make our neighbourhoods healthier, safer and more beautiful. Rain gardens might not grab headlines, but they make a real difference on the ground. We’re using data and community insight to get the best value for every pound invested.”

“There is not one large engineering solution that can protect Westminster from flooding. It’s going to take thousands of small interventions, like these new rain gardens. When it comes to flooding, every little helps.”