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Flood management projects

Peckham Rye Park and Common

While Peckham Rye Park and Common already provide some natural flood storage, flood risk remains high to many properties along the route of the River Peck, one of London’s “lost rivers”. We plan to use the Park and Common’s floodwater storage capability to better protect properties from flooding and to improve flood resilience in the area.

The challenge

Peckham Rye has a high risk of surface water and sewer flooding. Between 2 and 37 sewer flooding incidents have been reported per postcode in the local area. Failure of nearby reservoirs (such as the Nunhead and Beechcroft Reservoirs) could cause flooding to Peckham Rye Park and Common and nearby properties.

The solution

It is proposed to construct two earthworks bunds in Peckham Rye Park and Common. A bund is an embankment that is used to control the volume and flow of water; the proposed bunds in Peckham Rye Park and Common will store and drain flood water during storm events in a safe manner. Underground drainage and flow control devices will lower the rate of floodwater before it joins the existing sewer networks, ensuring sewer capacity is improved due to the scheme.

The proposed landscaping and underground drainage work will happen together; this will provide wider benefits, including:

  • reduced risk of flooding to nearby homes and roads
  • planting, which will improve biodiversity
  • an improved path into the Park and Common

These changes will improve the accessibility and enjoyment of Peckham Rye Park and Common for users.

A border of flowering plants separating a green space form a pavement
Planting on East Dulwich Road 
A planted embankment behind a low wall bordering a green space
Northern bund at the north end of the common
A planted embankment behind railings bordering a green space
Southern bund at the western edge of the park

The benefits

We are delivering this scheme alongside several partner organisations. The scheme will:

  • reduce the risk of surface water flooding to nearby homes and roads by capturing about 6 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of surface water and releasing it very slowly
  • reduce the risk of sewer flooding by controlling the flow of surface water into the sewer, reducing the runoff rate across the catchment by 97.7%
  • improve biodiversity and amenity in the area through landscaping that enables habitat creation
  • improve accessibility into the park and common through the creation of a natural corridor

These changes will improve the accessibility and enjoyment of Peckham Rye Park and Common for users.

The delivery

Construction works are set to begin in June 2024. We expect to complete much of it by December 2024. Working hours will be Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, not during peak times (weekday evenings and weekends). This will ensure that people can continue to enjoy the Park and Common.

During the construction period, some footpaths will be closed to ensure the health and safety of workers and the public. Diversion signs will be in place to ensure safe passage across the Park and Common.

There will be 5 crossing points along the fencing route.  Two of these will be manned, and will only be closed when construction vehicles need to move across the site. The other 3 crossing points will remain closed during working hours (8am to 4pm) to ensure the safe delivery of the works.

All crossing points will be open from 4pm to 8am, and over the weekends to provide access to the Park and Common. This map shows the proposed fencing and crossing points.

Pedestrian crossing point 1: Closed to public 8am to 4pm, open to public 4pm to 8am Pedestrian crossing point 5: Periodic disruption to public 8am to 4pm, open to public 4pm to 8am Pedestrian crossing point 2: Closed to public 8am to 4pm, open to public 4pm to 8am Pedestrian crossing Point 3: Periodic disruption to public 8am to 4pm, open to public 4pm to 8am Pedestrian crossing point 4: Closed to public 8am to 4pm, open to public 4pm to 8am
Map of Peckham Rye Park and Common showing the site boundary, footpath closures, pedestrian crossings and bunds

Page last updated: 12 June 2024

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