Queensmead Recreation Ground, London Borough of Bromley
“Thank you to the local community who participated in our first public consultation event on January 23, 2025, and to the park users who have contributed by sharing your views and questions via email.
We’ve put together an FAQ section to answer the questions and feedback we’ve received so far. Please read on to learn about what the restoration proposal is and why, view the FAQ and find out how you can stay involved. We’re updated the page with an April project update.
Together working with you, our partners and volunteers, we can create a more resilient, biodiverse, and accessible River Ravensbourne for future generations.”
Catriona Ross & Joel Wigfield – Thames21 team
RIVER RAVENSBOURNE RESTORATION PROPOSAL
The River Ravensbourne can be a place of beauty, but like many London rivers it faces the pressures of water quality issues created by urban pollution and being straightened by hard engineered structures.
The heavily modified stretch of river, which flows through the centre of Queensmead Recreation Ground in a deep, concrete-lined channel, lacks natural ecological functionality, provides limited biodiversity benefits, and contributes to flood risk in the wider area.
For a river to remain healthy and natural, it needs space to wiggle which is more important than ever as climate change-related droughts and floods are having a devastating impact on our natural ecosystems, putting extra stress on our rivers and the wildlife that depend on them.
To help solve these issues, we are proposing a major restoration project to transform this section of the river, enhancing flood resilience, improving biodiversity, supporting the current public amenities (recreational activities) on the floodplain including the local football club AFC Shortlands, as well as creating new areas.
WHY RESTORE THE RAVENSBOURNE?
Climate change is on our doorstep, so we need to bring the River Ravensbourne back to its natural state to make it healthy to withstand potential flooding and protect the areas, homes and businesses that surround it.
We propose to re-naturalise 245 meters of a heavily modified river by removing artificial modifications to the river, enhancing its natural hydromorphology (the physical character of the river), and improving its ecosystem.
There is a growing movement towards natural flood management (NFM) which works with nature to slow the flow of water entering rivers, create natural flood storage and reconnect rivers to their flood plains.
The project will actively involve the local community in river restoration efforts, engaging in activities like vegetation management, clean ups and river restoration activities.
Enhance Biodiversity
We need to protect our natural habitats and wildlife. So, we aim to improve the ecological health of the Ravensbourne and its riparian zone by reconnecting habitats, increasing species diversity, and creating a new wetland and in-channel features that support a thriving ecosystem.
Reduce Flood Risk and Improve Climate Resilience
Implementing restoration measures such as floodplain reconnection, bank reprofiling, and wetland creation, will enhance flood storage capacity, slow water flow, and increase resilience to extreme weather events.
Increased Amenity and Recreation Value
It will enhance community engagement with the river through improved public access, recreational spaces, and educational opportunities, fostering a greater connection between people and nature while providing aesthetic and health benefits and long-term stewardship.
Overall, we aim to work with our volunteers, partners and the local community to make a real difference in building climate resilience in our rivers and help to protect them for people and for wildlife.
WHEN WILL THIS HAPPEN?
To protect communities against flood risk into the future and to allow improved access to and engagement with the river, we will undertake activities through a phased approach, detailed here in the Queensmead Recreation Ground project timeline.
Ultimately, the delivery and subsequent phases of the project depends on multiple factors, including securing landowner permission from the London Borough of Bromley, obtaining sufficient funding, and addressing any constraints posed by the current financial climate.
Public Consultations 2025
Four high-level conceptual designs have been developed in the first phase of the project by For Love Of Water (FLOW). One of these designs will be taken forward through the concept design process. This is a collaborative process to bring together the user needs of Queensmead Recreation Ground and the project stakeholders.
Please click here to read the FAQs section based on questions we’ve received so far from members of the public.
PROJECT UPDATE APRIL 2025
Phase one has been completed which included carrying out a feasibility study to confirm site suitability and three high-level optioneering designs, shown further down on this page.
- A feasibility study is an assessment that evaluates the practicality and viability of a proposed project, analysing factors such as environmental benefits, flood risk, water quality, buildability, biodiversity uplift and amenity value.
The project is now in Phase 2 – Concept Design (subject to approval by London Borough of Bromley) which includes:
- The development of the preferred option identified during the feasibility study. It involves refining the design to a stage where the key design principles, layout, and functionality are clearly defined, forming the basis for the next phases of design and planning.
- This includes design drawings, hydraulic modelling of flood risk improvements, topographic surveys, stakeholder consultations and artistic impressions of the proposed project.
Next steps:
Thames21 will continue with its planned community engagement to reach and inform local residents, groups, and organisations about the project. A public consultation will be scheduled for a weekday lunchtime and a weekday evening, advertised with at least six weeks’ notice to support attendance.
Posters have been displayed in the park since January with the project website and contact email details. These will be updated to include the specific details of the public consultation event.
To keep informed with this project please scroll down the page to ‘Get involved’ section.
WHAT ARE THE RESTORATION OPTIONS?
The following four design options were shared with stakeholders and park users at the first onsite consultation event on 23rd January:
Option 1 – Do nothing, leave the river in the concrete channel.
Option 2 – In-channel Enhancements
Option 3 – Left bank reprofiling
Option 4 – Channel Realignment
GET INVOLVED
Your feedback is essential in shaping the project to meet the needs of both the local environment and community.
We welcome your thoughts on the proposed restoration so please get in touch by email, to either ask a question that has not yet been answered on the FAQs or to let us know if you want to be kept up to date with project updates and public consultation events by email. Please email Catriona/Joel at T21Ravensbourne@thames21.org.uk
The next Public Consultation Event will be organised for Summer 2025. Please check back here for updates and new posters in Queensmead Recreation Ground advertising the date.
ABOUT THE RAVENSBOURNE CATCHMENT PARTNERSHIP
A key aspect of this project is the partnership work through the Ravensbourne Catchment Improvement Group (RCIG). This formed in 2012 in order to represent a wide range of local stakeholders with a shared interest in improving the whole Ravensbourne catchment system to benefit local people and riverine habitats.
Formed as part of the UK Government’s Catchment-Based Approach initiative, catchment partnerships help implement obligations for protecting and improving water environments under the Water Framework Directive .
The RCIG hosts a wide range of partners such as the Environment Agency, Thames Water, Bromley Council, Bromley Town Parks and Gardens and other community groups. This partnership working is crucial to the success of local projects and ensures that all stakeholders are onboard with opportunities to improve river habitat throughout the catchment.
WFD Info: https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/WaterBody/GB106039023260
Queensmead Recreation Ground Optioneering Project (Phase 2) is funded by the Environment Agency WEIF programme, to be delivered by Thames21.
We would like to thank our partners for all their support. We are working in partnership with:
