Council aims to improve flood defences with riverside park

The proposed site relates to a section of vacant land sandwiched between Nursery Street and the River Don and has been backed by the Environment Agency.

The planning application says the park would measure 100 metres long by 21 metres at its widest point.

A canoe launching platform, terraced area, new riverside and roadside walls as well as new tree and wildflower planting are all included within the scheme.

A report to be considered by the city centre south and east planning and highways committee on November 28 recommends that approval be granted conditionally.

It says the site is located within an area that is susceptible to a 1 in 20 year flood event so the proposed works form part of a wider strategy designed to manage flooding for this section of the River Don in response to the 2007 floods.

“The proposed park forms part of the next stage of works planned for 2012 which includes several other projects aimed at improving flood defences along this stretch of the river,” says the report.

One aspect of the scheme which will require careful negotiating is how archaeological interests are safeguarded from the impact of development.

In 2009 an assessment of the site revealed important archaelogical evidence of previous industrial activity on the site.

The report says: “Most notable is the potentially nationally significant remains of a former steel works, particularly a cementation furnace hearth and associated baseemnts on the southern section of the site.

“This section of the site has therefore been excluded from any earthworks and will be left as a simple landscaped area to ensure the archaelogical remains are preserved.

“Beyond this protected area the proposed groundworks are likely to remove important archaeological information about the buildings associated with the furnances.

“Further archaeological works will be required to record the information prior to its loss.”

The question of access to the scheme is also problematic with some levels on the site said to be “difficult”. The report says this is an unavoidable constraint owing to the land levels and the need to create the terracing for flood mitigation reasons.

“The sceheme will introduce features such as inclusive seating and transfer seating steps at the canoe platform to ensure disabled kayakers and canoeists can use this facility.”

Given the scheme’s central location there will be no need to require any car parking as the aim is to serve the local community who will not need to travel there by car.

A site investigation into the ground conditions has revealed that there is some contamination due to previous industrial use.

However, this is to be managed in consultation with the council’s environmental protection service.

In summary the report says: “It is considered that the creation of a new public park in this location will aid with the wider regeneration of the area...

“The proposed works form part of a wider strategic flood risk strategy in response to the 2007 floods. The new riverside and roadside walls will deal with anything up to a 1 in 100 year flood.

“This will be a notable improvement on the current situation in which a 1 in 20 year flood even would cause flooding to Nursery Street.

“The Environment Agency has confirmed their support for the proposals...

“The replacement of existing trees is considered to be acceptable as it will improve the appearance of the street scene into the park. The new wildflower planting and vegation will increase biodiversity.

[email protected]