Co-director of the National Green Infrastructure Facility (NGIF) Dr Claire Walsh, a lecturer in Green Infrastructure at Newcastle University, said the aim was to use this site as a demonstrator to help protect other urban areas from flooding.

“The UK has seen an increase in the number of extreme weather events over the past decade and we have seen the devastation and distress that flash flooding causes.

“Naturally-engineered schemes should work hand in hand with flood defences. In this way, we can disperse the water and reduce the flood risk rather than simply moving the problem downstream.

“At Newcastle University, we are working on designing a number of natural flood management schemes to help our urban environment cope with a changing climate and future development pressures.”

Co-director Dr Ross Stirling, a lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering at Newcastle University, added:

“Through the NGIF, we are not only considering the benefit that ‘green infrastructure’ can provide in terms of reducing flood risk, but also looking at its economic, social and environmental benefits.

“We are exploring how green spaces may be exploited for renewable heat generation, adding value beyond their role in surface water management.  We are investigating the treatment of polluted runoff from our streets and the carbon capture potential of green infrastructure.  And we are considering how these approaches compare with traditional methods such as pipes by evaluating the cost of constructing these features and maintenance regimes over time.

“Flooding can be extremely costly from both an economical and emotional perspective and investment in mitigating floods upfront using green infrastructure can bring a wide range of benefits.”

Photos by: John Millard/Newcastle University