North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee: Unpave the Way

The garden takes a holistic and sustainable approach to front garden design. A growing national trend of paved front gardens has had an impact on flooding but there are garden design choices that can mitigate this.

The garden encapsulates two differing approaches to front garden design. The first garden focuses on DIY retrofitting of sustainable drainage (SuDS) and rainwater harvesting (RWH) solutions into an existing front garden. The second garden utilises readymade SuDS and permeable paving products for use in a new garden design.

The gardens present options for rainwater drainage for householders whose gardens may have either sandy well drained soil, or poorly drained clay soils. Both garden designs make space for water, planting, and nature – to maximise opportunities for rainwater reuse, biodiversity, urban cooling, and householder wellbeing.