Halliwick Recreation Ground

The Halliwick Recreation Ground Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) was developed by LUC in close collaboration with the London Borough of Barnet to reduce local flood risk while enhancing the park’s landscape character, biodiversity and recreational value. The project demonstrates an integrated approach to landscape design, combining flood management infrastructure with recreation, accessibility and ecological improvements within a single public open space.

The design vision is centred on the integration of water management into the everyday experience of the park. Rather than treating flood infrastructure as purely technical elements, the scheme incorporates these features as part of a cohesive landscape that is both functional and visually engaging. This approach allows the park to continue serving the local community while accommodating the requirements of flood resilience infrastructure. Seasonal water features, changes in landform and planted wetland areas are used to create a landscape that responds to water while providing opportunities for recreation, exploration and habitat enhancement.

A key aspect of the design is the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) embedded within the wider landscape strategy. These landscape-based interventions manage surface water naturally while contributing to the character and usability of the park. The design seeks to ensure that flood-management infrastructure supports broader environmental and social objectives, creating a multifunctional landscape that remains attractive and accessible year-round.

The landscape and water management strategy utilises natural landforms and planting to guide and manage water movement across the site. The introduction of a seasonal attenuation pond with marginal planting creates a prominent landscape feature while providing temporary stormwater storage. Shallow swales and an earth-formed basin further contribute to managing surface water flows, integrating technical requirements with the park’s broader design. Together, these interventions establish a landscape that responds to flooding while remaining an active community resource.

Accessibility and public use form an important part of the design. New accessible pathways have been introduced along key desire lines through the park, improving connectivity and ensuring that visitors can move easily between different areas of the site. Existing paths have been resurfaced to enhance usability and support year-round access. These improvements help create a more inclusive environment while encouraging greater use of the park.

Recreation has also been incorporated into the scheme through the creation of new spaces for informal activity. A sunken recreation lawn provides flexible open space that can accommodate a variety of uses, while a new decking platform overlooking the basin offers opportunities for visitors to engage with the landscape and experience the water management features at close range. These elements contribute to the park’s recreational offer while remaining integrated with the wider flood alleviation strategy.
Ecological enhancement is another important component of the design. New habitats have been created through planting interventions and additional tree planting, helping to increase biodiversity across the site. Wetland planting associated with the attenuation pond contributes to habitat creation while reinforcing the landscape character of the scheme. Improved park entrances and a strengthened landscape structure help establish a clearer sense of arrival and identity throughout the recreation ground.

Signage and interpretation have been incorporated to support visitor understanding and engagement with the project. Together with the access, recreation and habitat improvements, these elements contribute to a landscape that is designed to accommodate water, support biodiversity and provide benefits for local users.

Through the integration of flood management infrastructure, public realm improvements, and ecological enhancements, the Halliwick Recreation Ground Flood Alleviation Scheme demonstrates how a public park can serve multiple functions simultaneously. The project creates a resilient landscape that responds to flooding while providing new opportunities for recreation, accessibility and engagement with nature.

Technical Information

The Halliwick Recreation Ground Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) was developed by LUC and Metis Consultants in close collaboration with the London Borough of Barnet to reduce local flood risk for the park and downstream communities, while enhancing the site’s landscape character, biodiversity and recreational value.

The water storage requirements and capacity of the Flood Alleviation Scheme basin were digitally modelled by Metis Consultants to determine the volume required to manage surface water during storm events. LUC then worked closely with the hydraulic engineers to shape and integrate the flood storage infrastructure within the landscape, ensuring it achieved the required storage capacity whilst responding sensitively to the park setting and providing lasting amenity value for the local community.

The scheme integrates Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) into the park landscape, enabling surface water to be managed naturally through landscape-led interventions. These features are designed to store and slow water during heavy rainfall events while allowing the park to remain an attractive and usable public space year-round.

A central element of the scheme is a seasonal attenuation pond with marginal planting that temporarily stores stormwater and provides a storage capacity of 1,800 m³. Complementing this feature are shallow swales and an earth-formed basin, both designed to attenuate and manage surface water flows across the site. Together, these interventions form the core of the park’s flood management infrastructure, helping to reduce flood risk locally and downstream.

The design process included consultation with local stakeholders, including the Friends of Halliwick Recreation Ground, ensuring the proposals responded to community aspirations. Ecological enhancements through habitat creation and additional tree planting increase biodiversity, demonstrating how flood management infrastructure delivers environmental, recreational and social benefits.