Following the recent Brent Scrutiny Committee discussion on preparation for a flood emergency (which incidentally resulted in no recommendations) it may be worth looking at Westminster Council's actions in Kilburn.
From Westminster Council:
SuDS targets
The council is committed to retrofitting SuDS in public spaces and strengthening requirements for SuDS in new developments. The goal is to reduce 15% of surface water above ground during a 1 in 30 year rainfall event by 2030, within designated SuDS catchments.
A wider approach to climate resilience
Westminster’s long term approach to flood risk management responds to climate change and aligns with major regional programmes such as the London Surface Water Strategy, whilst also contributing to wider environmental goals through Westminster’s Sustainable Transport Strategy, Cool Neighbourhoods Strategy and the Greening & Biodiversity Strategy.
SuDS have been identified as an important tool in managing surface water flood risk across the city. The council recognises that SuDS are only part of the solution and is also delivering other measures to tackle flooding, as is outlined in our Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
To ensure accountability and continual improvement, progress will be monitored annually with a full strategy review every six years, incorporating new data and community feedback.
Westminster City Council is seeking feedback on proposed Sustainable Drainage Systems (otherwise known as SuDS) in Carlton Vale.
The project team will use this feedback to shape design of the proposals.
This project is part of the Council’s wider SuDS Programme, which aims to reduce flood risk and make streets more climate resilient by introducing sustainable drainage in areas where they can provide the greatest benefits.
More detail on the SuDS Programme can be found here.
Have your say
Westminster City Council invites you to share your views on the Carlton Vale SuDS proposals. If you would like to comment on our proposals, please complete the survey here.
The survey will close at midnight on Monday 14 December.
If you would like to discuss the proposals with the project team, you can attend one of the following events:
| Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams (Please register here) | Tuesday 17 November | 6-7pm |
| Park Café, Paddington Recreation Ground, W9 1PD | Saturday 28 November 2026 | 1-5pm |
| Park Café, Paddington Recreation Ground, W9 1PD | Tuesday 1 December | 12-3pm |
The project team will be at the events to answer your questions, and you will also be able to view information about the scheme.
Hard-copy information and questionnaires are also available at Maida Vale Library, Sutherland Avenue, London W9 2QT.
Carlton Vale SuDS Proposals
To help reduce flood risk and manage rainwater more effectively, Westminster City Council is bringing forward proposals to deliver Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) along Carlton Vale. These measures are designed to improve the area’s resilience to heavy rainfall while also enhancing the local streetscape and environment.
6 comments:
To the left on central plan drawing is Carlton Vale, Brent which is flood risk down the hill so to speak. Nice of Westminster to consider surface water flooding flowing down Carlton Hill and into Brent homes. All is Carlton Vale Brent is in the Maida Vale flood area according to Thames Water.
The big issue though is the River Westbourne also left on central plan image at the borough boundary, that's river sewage flooding when it surfaces above ground as happened twice in 2020 and before that too.
Westminster is responding, wonder what the £1 billion contract with Ballymore will say about flood risk resilience requirements in the Brent Carlton Vale area (remembering the 2020 Carlton Vale Boulevard design work followed to date by inaction ). My guess would be climate denial, as SUDs are too costly for a tall building zone of sky houses. I did previously propose life boats being put on the sides of all Kilburn Wall towers by no plan Brent.
To South Kilburn flood risk denial add HS2 tunnel denial. With Westminster having HS2 tunnel community payback engaged.
Westminster Maida Vale also starts it's impressive and growing flood defences in South Kilburn with underground car parks built under new SK blocks that will serve as flood water storage tanks to Brent tenant disastrous costs in any future flood event.
The removal of the 25 mature tree roundabout green space Carlton Vale, Brent in 2008 also brought Westminster as mitigation for this flood defence loss a new wetland pond flood defence inside its borough boundary to flood protect Westminster, while South Kilburn must endure the removal of this and many other flood defences. Resilience and anti-resilience at a borough boundary. Believe in and believe in not.
Maida Vale flood area, the South Kilburn tall building zone is inside that flood area (see London Flood Investigation part 3). Where is the climate resilience planning for tower upon tower of sky houses in this tbz? Flood risk denial clearly doesn't cut it in City of Westminster, Brent decision makers could learn.
Suds everywhere could be a contract condition imposed on Ballymore along with green roofs, grey water collection/use, water butts, protection of remaining green flood defences, no ground level flats, no underground car parks.....
Re Suds free private estate South Kilburn and Brent Ballymore swimming against the tide with perverse objectives;
From an ongoing MHCLG consultation titled ' Reducing the prevalence of private estate management arrangements'
"The government recognises the importance of new housing supply to meet national demand, and we must deliver reform in parallel with our wider housing ambitions, including building a record number of desperately needed new homes, while making sure that public services are sustainable.
The government aims to:
reduce reliance on private estate management and increase adoption of amenities by public authorities
implement common standards for adoptable amenities to improve quality and consistency
explore mandatory adoption for certain public amenities, while considering exceptions for premium or exclusive features
remove perverse incentives that make non-adoption attractive to developers
improve data transparency, homeowner protections, and dispute resolution mechanisms
consider prohibiting embedded management arrangements and promoting resident-controlled management
assess financial sustainability of estate management charges and introduce affordability safeguards
seek evidence on impacts for homeowners, developers, local authorities, and management companies"
Abandonment. I suspect that the indifference regarding care of civic green and movement spaces between car-free towering's will be continued over the next 20 years in South Kilburn unadopted.
Flood risk denial Brent
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