Member Article

Park project focuses on habitat creation and flood protection

An innovative water management system that will create a new wetland habitat - whilst also reducing flood risk in the city - is set for Sheffield’s Manor Fields Park.

The Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme (SuDS) is designed to ease pressure on Sheffield’s watercourse and sewer network and is being delivered as part of plans to build 148 new homes in the city - at Harborough Rise and in and around Manor Park Avenue.

It will see the creation of an environment that will provide a home for a diverse range of plants and animals. It will also incorporate new trails and walkways for park visitors to explore and enjoy.

The works are to be delivered by Sheffield Housing Company (SHC) - in partnership with the Council’s Parks and Flood Management teams - and The Green Estate Community Interest Company, which manages the park. A specialist contractor is to be appointed to deliver the groundworks.

The site compound is expected to be in situ by August, with the main works to begin in September 2023.

A small area of the park will be closed for approximately five months and although there will be a need to divert park users to different entrances and exits to the park for a limited time, there will be minimal disruption to the rest of the park.

Howard Young, Project Manager at SHC said: “This is a really exciting project which will have far reaching benefits - both environmentally and for local people and park users. Inevitably there will be a period of minor disruption, but we have been working hard to communicate with all those who might be affected and we will strive to keep this to a minimum.”

Chief Executive at The Green Estate, Roz Davies, expressed her support for the scheme: “Together with our partners, The Green Estate has been investing in our local green spaces by creating innovative and resilient landscapes since 2003. This SuDS development in Manor Fields Park supports our mission to grow adaptive and good quality green spaces, which are good for both people and nature.”

The SuDS will reduce the flow of water in Kirkbridge Dyke - in Manor Fields Park - when there is increased flow due to heavy rain. A permanent shallow pond and new wildlife habitat will be created - normally holding small volumes of water and enhancing biodiversity. During a storm, the water level within the basin would temporarily rise, before being slowly released afterwards into the watercourse.

The new capacity created further downstream could then accommodate more run-off water from houses, roads and pathways, alleviating pressure on drains and sewers.

Creating upstream water storage above the points of discharge from new developments is not typical. This new approach is a result of the watercourse and sewer modelling undertaken during the Three Brooks Flood Project - part of the Sheffield Flood Risk Management Plan.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, Chair of the Sheffield City Council Housing Policy Committee and representative for the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “As well as delivering quality new housing, the Council’s joint venture Sheffield Housing Company is committed to delivering transformational regeneration initiatives across a number of areas within the city. The new (SuDS) being built in Manor Fields Park is a fantastic scheme that will add to the diverse habitats within the park, reduce flood risk from run-off and help to offset the environmental impact from the much needed 148 new homes that are being built in the Manor and Manor Park neighbourhoods”.

Established in 2011 with an ambitious target of building 2,300 properties on a total of 23 sites by the end of 2026, SHC is Sheffield City Council’s joint venture development company with private developer Keepmoat and Great Places Housing.

In this time, the partnership has created over 800 jobs, 75 apprenticeships, spent more than £80m with construction businesses in the South Yorkshire region and contributed over £50,000 to local community groups, schools and good causes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .