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Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS)

The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London

David Redfern

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Introduction

This presentation supports the following article in GEOGRAPHY REVIEW Vol. 34, No. 2:

• Understanding flooding over time: extreme flood events in Worcester – page 22.

• The presentation provides details of another SuDS scheme: the Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park, Stratford, London.

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Definition and features
Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) aim to minimise runoff from buildings and paved
areas by measures such as retaining water for re-use, increasing infiltration into the ground using
permeable surfaces and ‘soakaways’, or incorporating retention basins and wetlands alongside new
developments.

SuDS can include:

• permeable surfaces such as porous linings around trees and grassed areas

• infiltration trenches

• rainwater harvesting — ponds and swales

• underground storage

• green roofs and walls

• wetlands

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General benefits of SuDS

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Background
• The Olympic Park development in Stratford, east London, covers an area of approximately
250ha and housed the Olympic (now London) Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Velodrome,
Copper Box, BMX Track, as well as extensive public access areas (landscaped and paved),
transport centres and other operational facilities.

• The original site was formerly industrial/commercial developments together with the Lea
Valley Park and was a known depository for building rubble from properties demolished
during the Second World War.

• The site overlays deposits of river terrace gravel and chalk aquifers, and it was known to
be contaminated throughout due to the industrial developments on it.

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Characteristics
• A number of watercourses traverse the park including the River Lea, River Lee Navigation,
Waterworks River, City Mill River and the Old River Lea.

• The park was designed to be protected against river flooding within a 100-year return period
rainfall event.

• The site topography was dramatically changed during the course of the development with
some areas of the park being raised by 9m.

• In addition, the creation of the wetland bowl within the River Lea valley required significant
widening of the river channel reducing land levels around it.

• Plateaux have been formed for the sporting venues and associated facilities above the river
flood level with access routes to the lower level of the towpaths adjacent to the watercourses.

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SuDS used
• Porous asphalt strips are extensively employed throughout the pedestrian concourses of the
park. These act as collection points for any runoff generated and convey water into trenches
below the strips which contain perforated pipes. The perforated pipes (made from recycled
thermoplastic material) drain to catch-pits and then into the rivers/watercourses.

• Within the wetlands located adjacent to the Basketball Arena/Velodrome swales, filter
strips/drains and small balancing ponds have been used.

• Swales are included within the wetlands area to act as ‘slow-the-flow’ devices. They
incorporate check dams (or weirs) at intervals to reduce velocities and provide open water
features (attenuation ponds) alongside wetland pathways.

• Rainwater harvesting was installed at two permanent venues — the Velodrome and Copper
Box.

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River Lea and athletes'
village — Stratford, London

Photo: David Redfern

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Evaluation (1)
• The SuDS designed and installed within the park take account of the requirements required by the
Environment Agency.

• They also take into account the potential impacts of climate change.

• They have reduced sources of surface water contamination and increased the use of appropriate
methods of interception and infiltration.

• The opportunity to enhance the biodiversity and amenity of the public space was taken — the
North Park wetland feature has become a wildlife haven for plants and animals with habitats created
for otters, kingfishers, grey herons and water voles.

• Appropriate materials were used in the construction and maintenance of the drainage
infrastructure, much of which is recycled and carbon-neutral.

• The safe operation and maintenance of the drainage system included the efficient transfer from
Olympic Games’ activities to the park’s subsequent legacy uses.

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Evaluation (2)
• One negative outcome has
been the increased use of
nitrogenous fertiliser to feed
the newly vegetated areas.
This has resulted in
widespread eutrophication
in the watercourses.

The River Lea near the

athletes’ village
Photo: Nick Higham
(Photo taken August 2020).

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 This resource is part of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW, a magazine written for A-
level students by subject experts. To subscribe to the full magazine go to:  
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