Cardiff, United Kingdom
City population: 344626
Duration: 2013 – 2015
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 16800000 m2
Type of area: Residential
Last updated: October 2021

In response to floods that had been afflicting the Rhiwbina area of Cardiff, a capital scheme was promoted in order to develop an integrated Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme. First, a pond was built in the Caedlyn Park to capture peak flows during extreme rainfall (ref 2; ref 8). The City of Cardiff also built low walls alongside the brook that flows through the neighbourhood to better channel water while also removing debris and reinstating the banks that had eroded over time (ref 1; ref 2). Additionally, by realigning and widening the watercourse, establishing earth bunds and creating a large attenuation pond downstream that aligns with the drainage system (ref 7). Taken together, flood risk decreased for the area overall, assisting local residents.

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Lakes/ponds
  • Green areas for water management
  • Other

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

Project objectives

1. improve local resilience to the type of flood events 2. Low walls will be built alongside the brooks. 3. A new pond in Caedleyn Park to capture peak flows during extreme rainfall 4. improve the brook channel by removing debris and reinstating banks that have eroded over time (ref 1 and 2)

Implementation activities

This project involved the construction of low level flood walls and culvert installation along the boundaries of residential properties; extensive tree felling and ecological survey work; localized realignment and widening of the watercourse; earth bunds and a large attenuation pond with associated drainage works downstream. (ref 7)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
  • Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups
  • Other

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Other

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project was led and funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government and Cardiff City Council. (ref 1). Contractor Raymond Brown Construction undertook the work. (ref 6). The project also required regular liaison with residents, landowners and the local authority to deliver progress updates. (ref 7)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€500,000 - €2,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds
  • Public regional budget
  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Other

Economic impacts

  • Other

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1.Cardiff Council. (No date). Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on Jul 8 2020]
2. Cardiff Council. (No Date). Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme Bulletin. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on Jul 8 2020].
3. Rhiwbina Local. (2013). Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on Jul 8 2020].
4. Sisk E. 2014. Rhiwbina flood defence scheme construction phase gets underway. Wales Online. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020]
5. Deans D. (2014). The start of £1.3m flood defence work divides opinion among residents. Wales Online. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020].
6. Raymond Brown Construction. (No date). Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme wins National Award from ICE Wales Cymru. [Website not available in 2020]
7. Raymond brown construction. (No date). Coasts, Rivers and Ports. [Website not available in 2020]
8. Rhiwbinainfo. (2013). Rhibina Flood Defence Scheme. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020]
9. Living Magazines Cardiff. (2016). Rhiwbina Flood Defence Scheme shortlisted for prestigious award. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020].
10. Messenger, S. (2018). Cheaper insurance for 10,000 flood-prone homes in Wales. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020].
11. WaterBriefing. (2014). Welsh Government funding will help protect Cardiff homes from flood risk. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020].
12. Cardiff Caerdydd. (2015). Cardiff Flood Risk Management Plan. [Available at: Source link. [Accessed on: Jul 8 2020].