the River Restoration Centre

Urban River Restorationin the UK
Martin JanesRRC ManagerUKRestored Ford, River Ogwen,
North Walesthe River Restoration Centre

UK river management changes
 Past- Flood ‘Protection’ and Drainage

Deep channels, walls, culverts, embankments.
 Present- Risk Management (floods, etc)

Storage, capacity, and more natural rivers.
 Future- Catchment Management?

Land (soil) management, Sustainable drainage
systems, functioning floodplains, integrated planningpolicies -> river restoration

Dig it deep!

Give it space

Put it backthe River Restoration Centre

River Restoration in the UK
the River Restoration Project(1990 – 1997)

Rivers Cole and Skerne, UK
Demonstration Projects
Rural River ColeUrban River Skerne
Rural River Brede (Denmark)[1994 - The start of a European
Centre for River Restoration(ECRR)]

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R. Skerne

In1994Urban
UK RiverRestoration
Project. £1M
Demonstration.

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Multiple benefits for all
Flood storage
 Fish habitat
 Landscape Natural processes Bank protection
 Access Value for money
 ……
 Demonstration value– Encouragement– Technical solutions– Policy implications

the River Restoration CentreRiver Restoration in the UK
the River Restoration Project(1990 – 1997)

Rivers Cole and Skerne
Demonstration Projects

the River Restoration Centre(April 1998 - )- UK Information andAdvisory Service- Promoting the benefits ofriver restoration

RRC Supporters and Advisory
Board

Aerial view of the restored River Skerne
Demonstration Project, Darlington

the River Restoration Centre

the River Restoration Centre
 Covers the UK, 6 staff + 40 advisers
 Independent and impartial advice
 Supported by the UK environment agencies
 Promotes ‘best practice river management’ andriver restoration.
– Flooding, ecology, engineering, conservation,….

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RR News & www.theRRC.co.uk

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Urban River Restoration Projects
Replacing hard with ‘softer’
Incorporating habitat potential
Multi functional restoration
Physical form & processes vs. constraints
Strategic planning to link oppportunities

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River Colne, Staines, London

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R. Marden, Wiltshire Flood risk…. & Landscape, Habitat, Amenity,

Public pride.
Simulate form & process in a constrained location

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Marden design
Designed to physicalforms defined by riverprocesses
Include native habitat
types to colonise
Accessible and visible
to users and public
Provides an urban
function within urban
constraints

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Public amenity
River Brent, North London

June 2006

July 2003

Concrete 2002

August 1998
Design informed by geomorphology
to allow for a ‘semi-natural’ river
form with active fluvial process in a
restricted urban environment
May 2005

March 2003

March 2004

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Social impact
Urban space,
Accessibility,
Quality of life,
Ownership,Social justice.

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Sustainable Flood Management
Jubilee River, London
A ‘2nd River Thames’ forWindsor & Maidenhead.
11km of shallow, linked, linear
gravel bed pools.
Designed to reflect thehabitat lost from the RiverThames.
High land and property prices
made the project viable at£115,000,000. =£10M perKm.
Only in London!!
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North London RR Strategy
Launched 2006 by the Mayor ofLondon’s Office.
Targeting strategic planners andlocal authorities
Promoting the social, economicand environmental benefits ofbetter rivers in the capital
Impetus for a City of Londondemonstration project and asingle whole ‘London River
Restoration Strategy’.

the River Restoration CentreLondon Olympic Site
 2012 Olympic Games Lower River Lea - central

to the games site
Vision is far from reality!

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Policy Mechanisms‘constraints and opportunities’
From engineering dominated ‘flood defence’and land drainage
toecological river restoration of habitat quality
balancing the needs of society

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Policies and Directives
 European Directives– Habitats and Species Directive (1992)– Water Framework Directive (2000)– Floods Directive (2007)
 UK Legislation– Making Space for Water (E & W)
– Catchment Flood Management Plans (E & W)
– Sustainable Flood Management (S)– Land drainage consent (E & W)
– Controlled Activity Regulations (S)the River Restoration Centre

WF Directive Adopted in EU,Dec-2000;
 Targeted at Aquatic
Ecosystem Quality; Prevents Further‘deterioration’; Enhance Aquatic
Ecosystem Quality
through a program ofmeasures;
 Catchment scale river
basin planning; Implement by 2015, oron 5 year ‘cycles’.

the River Restoration Centre

Restore degraded habitats to:Good Ecological Status(GES)
For all watercourses not
impacted severely, orserving an over-riding
economic/public serviceGood EcologicalPotential (GEP)
For all watercourses
designated ‘Heavily
Modified’, or ‘Artificial’
Best compromise (ecol. vs.
needs of society)the River Restoration Centre

Urban Rivers
Urban river restoration can deliver sustainable andeconomic ‘ecological’ river management, also providing
valuable social benefits. Multiple benefits.

Strategic planning at the catchment scale can maximise
opportunities and help minimise the constraints. Longterm thinking.

Engage with the local community at the earliest
opportunity to encourage ownership and help secure
future success. Public voice.

Urban re-development can pose the greatest threat torivers as well as the greatest opportunity.
Rare opportunities, biggest influence4th ECRR RIVER RESTORATIONINTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

16-21 June 2008
Disseminating European and International good practicethe River Restoration Centre

RRC Conference
Exeter, S. W. EnglandApr 16-18th 2008
Abstracts by end 2007
Programme at end Jan 08
Bookings until March 08

Info@theRRC.co.uk
Martin Janes, RRC Manager and ECRR Board member
Martin@theRRC.co.uk, www.theRRC.co.uk, +44 (0) 1234 752979