Building Flood Resilience and Awareness in North Kensington
Working with residents and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to deliver practical rainwater capture solutions across two locations in Notting Dale and North Kensington.
We partnered with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to deliver targeted rainwater capture in an area previously impacted by severe surface water flooding.
Not only was the project a success, but residents were happy too!
“I just wanted to say how very pleased I am with the installation I received! They installers were very kind, considerate and accommodating, and the outcome - pic attached - is wonderful! I can't wait to plant my flowers in the planters!”
Find out what we did and how below.
Key Achievements
10,500+ litres of additional rainwater storage
94% uptake of available devices
77 expressions of interest for 50 devices
45 rain planters installed (with 2 more pending)
Why this area?
Notting Dale and North Kensington experienced significant surface water flooding, particularly during extreme rain in July 2021. Flooded impacted homes, businesses, community facilities and residents’ wellbeing.
The scale of the impact was reflected in the community research 👉
The Challenge
Practical solutions in a densely packed urban area
The project faced practical challenges. Some properties had limited outdoor space, while others had different layouts, access or suitability requirements. So a standardised, one-size-fits-all approach would not work.
The project involved discussing flooding with residents who may have experienced distress, disruption, financial loss or uncertainty after previous flooding. Meaning conversations needed to be sensitive, empathetic and demonstrate the practical benefits.
Our Approach
Instead of installing devices indiscriminately, we used a targeted approach to identify where rainwater capture could be most appropriate and useful.
- Modelling
- Community engagement
- Installation and delivery
- Monitoring
Understanding local conditions and identifying suitable opportunities for rainwater management.
