Flood resilience works finished at Barn Elms Southside

Work to strengthen Barnes's defences against flooding has been completed at Barn Elms Southside, with the restored site now better equipped to absorb excess water from the Beverley Brook during extreme weather.

The project, delivered through the Community BlueScapes programme, has re-established the natural connection between the brook and the land beside it. Engineering works in the early twentieth century raised the riverbank, cutting off what had historically functioned as a natural floodplain. The new scheme adjusts a section of that bank to allow water to flow temporarily onto the open land at Barn Elms during severe events — chiefly when heavy rainfall coincides with high Thames tides and drainage is restricted.

A raised earth berm has been constructed across the site to contain any stored floodwater and prevent it spreading further into the surrounding area. The site will only be used in this way during rare, extreme conditions, and the land will return to normal use once water levels drop.

For residents near Beverley Brook and the Barn Elms sports ground, the works represent a meaningful improvement in resilience at a time when the wider South West London area faces increasing flood risk. Today's heavy rain forecast makes the timing of the announcement particularly relevant. Full details from Richmond Council.