Manchester, United Kingdom
City population: 2679318
Duration: unknown – 2015
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Other
Last updated: October 2021

The Environment Agency, Manchester City Council and the Irwell Rivers Trust had undertaken works to renaturalise a section of the River Medlock running through Manchester. The project had sought to return the river to its natural state by widening the channel and replacing the Victorian brick lining with gravel that provides a more natural-looking and fish-friendly section of the river and reduces flood risk at the same time (ref. 3). The project was also being seen as an EU exemplar of how to go about restoring an urban river (ref. 1, ref. 7).

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social cohesion
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Improving physical health
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Tourism support
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Preservation of natural heritage

Focus

Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems

Project objectives

To return the river to its natural state by widening the channel and replacing the Victorian brick lining with gravel that provides a more natural-looking and fish-friendly section of the river, and reduces flood risk at the same time. (ref 3) The restoration project seeked to improve the way the river functions and the environment in and around it. The plans also considered how to use the restoration to support public health, the local economy and involve the community. (ref 1) It involved : -Widening the river -Repairing its structures -Improving footpath access -Removing manmade elements with a negative impact -Restoring natural features -Making it feel safer and more attractive (ref 1)

Implementation activities

Widening the channel and replacing the Victorian brick lining with gravel that provides a more natural-looking and fish-friendly section of the river, and reduces flood risk at the same time (ref 3.) It will involve : -Widening the river -Repairing its structures -Improving footpath access -Removing manmade elements with a negative impact -Restoring natural features -Making it feel safer and more attractive\ (steps sourced from (ref 1)) Two weirs were removed in the river which slowed the flow of the water; riffles and runs added to provide protection for fish and insects and deep pools created to help with water quality by reducing sediments (ref. 6)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
  • Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Public engagement

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Restore valued species
  • Other

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • National government
  • Local government/municipality
  • Private foundation/trust

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Project partners are the UK Environment Agency, the Manchester City Council, and the Irwell River Trust (ref 2).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (The programme has been set up as part of Britain's response to the EU Water Framework Directive which aims to breathe life back into natural waterways across the continent by 2027 (ref 7))
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget

Type of funding

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

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Increased number of species present
  • Other

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Other

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Urbantrout. (2013). Restoring the Red River: Manchester’s River Medlock. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 10 2020)
2. BBC News. (2014). Environment Agency's River Medlock project in Manchester wins award. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 10 2020)
3. Hillsdon, M. (2014). Restoring the River Medlock. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 10 2020)
4. The Guardian. (2013). Britain's lost rivers resurrected and freed to go with the flow. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 10 2020)
5. Case study 19: River Medlock restoration study -Manchester, Lancashire. (n.d.). Sebastian Bentley (JBA) and Oliver Southgate (Environment Agency) (Accessed: July 10 2020)
6. Barlow, D. (2014). Makeover for the River Medlock. Ontheplatform. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 18th 2020)
7. Barlow, N. (2018). Brown trout found in restored River Medlock. About Manchester. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 18th 2020)