New rain garden helping to prevent flooding on Hove road
A new ‘rain garden’ to help prevent flooding on a road in Hove is now finished.
It’s been created at the junction of Norton Road and Eaton Road to help absorb rainwater.
Norton Road has had a history of flooding during severe wet weather and was badly flooded during a storm in July 2014.
The garden will help to absorb some of the water that would otherwise flow down the road, but has also created a new, green space with biodiverse planting and a more accessible junction.
Following months of work and using money from the council’s Carbon Neutral Fund, the rain garden is now complete and junction open again to vehicles.
What is a rain garden?
A rain garden is a type of Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) used to reduce surface water flooding.
For this project, the new kerb line has small gaps, allowing the surface water to flow into the garden.
It also includes biodiverse planting, and a new street tree.
Watch a video about Sustainable Drainage Systems.
Why the need?
Brighton & Hove is ranked 8th in the top 10 Flood Risk Areas in England, with surface water run-off from heavy rainfall posing the biggest problems.
Over 30,000 properties in the city are at risk of flooding.
Innovative and beautiful
Councillor Trevor Muten, chair of the council’s Transport and Sustainability committee said: “To see the rain garden complete is amazing. It really is a wonderful space and just demonstrates that you can mix innovation with beauty.
“We’ve all seen and experienced the effects climate change is having on our weather. The rain garden will help to ease some of the flooding that people on Norton Road have suffered over the years.
“The biodiverse planting has transformed this simple junction into a vibrant green space that really stands out."
