Overview

Updated 16 October 2024

This page provides a summary of the latest progress and an overview of our project which aims to reduce flooding to homes, businesses and infrastructure in the Woodford and Ilford areas. It also sets out who you can contact for further information, and how to request to be added to our mailing list.

There is a set of Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of the page, which will be updated regularly throughout the construction phase.  

This page will be reviewed every 3 months and updated as necessary.

Latest project progress

Since our last update in July 2024, the two main areas of focus on the project have been:

• Continuation of the main works to construct a Flood Storage Area on the River Roding just north of the M25 at Shonks Mill Bridge.
• Refurbishment of an existing flood embankment in Woodford to make sure it can withstand the estimated impact of climate change.

Figure 1 below shows the location of these works and there is an update on these 2 main elements of the project below.

Above: Figure 1 - map showing the location of the River Roding project works

Woodford embankment work

At the end of September 2024, BAM Nuttall started work on a repair to an embankment in Woodford, behind Broadmead Baptist Church. These works are an important part of the overall project to achieve the flood risk benefits for communities in Woodford and Ilford. They have undertaken bat surveys and vegetation clearance, and will now be setting up the site compound, undertaking tree work, carrying out the embankment repairs, then finish with landscaping works. This is predicted to be complete by the end of October 2024. We produced a one-sided briefing note specifically relating to these works, which is linked at the bottom of this page. This was provided to the Church and BAM Nuttall contractors on site had copies to provide to any passers by. Figure 2 below shows the location and approximate extent of these works.

Above: Figure 2 - location of Woodford embankment works adjacent to Broadmead Baptist Church, Woodford

Flood Storage Area at Shonks Mill

Since we entered the into the construction contract with BAM Nuttall in March 2024, work has focused on the following key activities:

• The first 3 months of the programme focused on vegetation clearance, establishment of access points to the site and set-up of the site compound.
• Since June 2024 when the permanent construction works started, BAM Nuttall have been working on the following:
  • Piling and excavation of the cofferdam to enable the river control structure to be built. A cofferdam is a watertight enclosure, created using sheet piling to establish a dry working area (see figure 3 below).
  • Excavation of the river diversion channel, where the River Roding will be diverted once the control structure is operational (see figure 4 below).
  • Installation of a temporary river crossing to enable access to the eastern side of the site where material (clay) is being excavated to build the earth embankment (see figure 5 below).
  • Diversion of the public right of way across the site to its new permanent route.
  • Construction of an artificial badger set.

There is more detail on each of these activities in the diagram and table below, as well as some recent photographs showing progress of work on site:

Above: Figure 3 - inside the cofferdam, which is being excavated to create a dry working area to build the control structure

Above: Figure 4 - excavation work on the River Roding diversion channel

Above: Figure 5 - temporary crossing over the River Roding to the site of the material (clay) excavation

Above: Figure 6 - the site pictured from above, showing the river diversion works at the top and the cofferdam on the right

Below, figure 7 shows the site from above and the location of the individual activities being undertaken by BAM Nuttall. Additional detail of each activity is in the table below the image.

What's next?

The diagram below shows the high-level activities which will take place within the next 6 months of the flood storage area construction programme:

We will update this diagram regularly as the project progresses. We expect to complete the construction in early 2027.

Why are we doing these works?

There has been an increased frequency of flood events over the past 20 years. The most serious flood in recent decades occurred in October/November 2000. Over 400 homes in Woodford were flooded, there was widespread disruption to local infrastructure and major roads (including Charlie Browns roundabout) were closed for over a week. Climate change data shows that the frequency and intensity of such events will increase over the coming years, so it is important we reduce the impact of flooding on the local area.

As well as the economic damage that occurs after a flood event, flooding also has an impact on peoples' wellbeing. Flooding often causes financial stress, disruptions to daily life and can impact peoples' mental health (see figure 8 below).

Above: Figure 8 - some of the impacts flooding can have on people's wellbeing

The photos below show flood events which have affected the communities in Woodford and Ilford.

Above: Figure 9 - aerial photograph of the Roding flooding in December 2019, taken by a local resident

Above: Figure 10 - Photo taken during the floods in 2000.

Project background

The River Roding Project will reduce flooding to residential properties, commercial properties and infrastructure in the Woodford and Ilford areas.

The project includes building a flood storage area on the River Roding, upstream of the M25, at Shonks Mill Bridge. The flood storage area will allow the river to flow naturally most of the time, however in times of high flows, water will build up and be stored behind the earth embankment creating a temporary reservoir, reducing the risk of flooding downstream. This will then drain naturally back into the river as flows reduce.

The project also includes refurbishing a flood embankment downstream in Woodford to withstand the estimated impacts of climate change.

The before and after diagrams in figure 11 below show how a flood storage area works. In times of high flows, flood water is held behind the earth embankment while a controlled flow will be able to pass through the structure, reducing the flow, and extent of flooding downstream.

Figure 12 below shows an artists impression of how the embankment will look on the River Roding at Shonks Mill once it is complete.

Above: Figure 11 - diagram showing how flood risk is reduced to downstream communities by a flood embankment and control structure

Above: Figure 12 - artists impression of the completed flood storage area embankment above Shonks Mill Road

If you would like to ask the project team any questions, then please contact us using the email address on the right-hand side of this page. If you would like to be added to our mailing list so that you are kept updated about the project, and notified when this website is updated then please send us an email and we will add you to our list.

Please note our proposals will reduce the risk of flooding and climate change impact but will not eliminate the risk altogether.