Work to transform Trefusis Park into a green solution to nearby flooding issues started in April 2025.
The scheme, which was consulted on for a second time in 2024, will see the park become home to a new sustainable drainage system.
As part of the works a seasonal wetland area will be installed to help reduce the risk of flooding to homes and businesses in the local area by safely storing water during heavy rainfall.
Having received funding for the new scheme from the Environment Agency, we have now appointed Kier Integrated Services Limited (Kier) as the main contractor, and work will begin from Monday 28 April 2025.
The scheme, which is being delivered by Plymouth City Council in partnership with the Environment Agency and South West Water, is required to alleviate flooding in Lipson Vale, particularly the junction at Bernice Terrace, which has seen high rainfall cause persistent flooding for many years.
If heavy rainfall coincides with a high tide, the drainage water exits can become “tide-locked”, causing a back-up in the system that floods on to the road and on occasion, into nearby houses and businesses.
About the scheme
To reduce the risk of flooding in the Lipson Vale area during times of heavy rainfall, we are seeking to store excess surface water in seasonal wetland basins within Trefusis Park, then release it back into the drainage network slowly once the heavy rain has passed and the network has capacity again.
This will enable the drainage system downstream of the park to cope better and will also mean that roads and pavements will be less likely to close because of flood water.
The scheme will also allow South West Water to carry out work to stop rainwater entering the combined sewer upstream of the park. This will further reduce the risk of flooding and improve water quality in the River Plym by reducing the number of combined sewer overflow spills that occur during heavy rainfall.
Once South West Water’s works have been completed, 147 homes will be better protected from flooding.
The proposed seasonal wetland basins will be dry for most of the year, allowing people to walk through them. However, during heavy rainfall events, sections of the basins will fill up with water. A fully accessible route will be provided on top of the basins’ embankments, which will provide access throughout the year.
How the seasonal wetland basins will be created
Trefusis Park (Tippy Park) is built on a former landfill site. We have already conducted surveys and as a consequence of this, the proposed basins will sit above the landfill, protected by a liner, with minimal excavation into the landfill material below.
How the seasonal wetland basins will promote ecology and wildlife
The new seasonal wetland basins will include features such as:
- a wildlife friendly stream bed – this will incorporate gently sloping banks creating easier access for wildlife instead of the current concrete channel
- scrapes – these form shallow indents in the basin floor, resulting in areas that will dry out
- a new permanent pond – this will be a permanent water body resulting in a new habitat and amenity feature for the park
Size of the newly created areas
The park has an area of approximately 25,000 square metres, excluding the woods to the East and West. The seasonal wetland basins will be approximately 7400 square metres and vary in depth depending upon rainfall. The basins will remain dry and accessible for most of the year, allowing people to walk through them.
Safety of the seasonal wetland basins when full of water
The seasonal wetland basins have been designed in accordance with the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy and Health and Safety design guidance, including input from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. During the worst rainfall events, the water depth may reach a maximum of 1.2 metres. As with any water, children and dogs will need to be supervised.
Water safety signs and equipment will be provided throughout the park.
News updates
9 April - Work set to start on Trefusis Park | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK
28 May- Trefusis Park Flood Relief Scheme - May update | PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK
Building Resilience in Communities Team
While the proposed scheme will provide some immediate benefits in reducing the flood risk, the full benefit to the project will be achieved when South West Water complete their water separation works upstream. Even after this time, however, we cannot guarantee that flooding will never occur because of the predicted changes in weather and sea levels caused by climate change. This is why Plymouth City Council’s Building Resilience in Communities (BRIC) Team are working with local people to raise flood awareness. Opportunities to get involved include:
- becoming a Community Flood Responder
- attending flood risk awareness sessions
- taking part in learning and creative activities to explore our relationship with water and the challenges of climate change on our local landscape
Flooding in the Lipson Vale area
The Lipson Vale area floods because:
- it is a rapid response catchment with very steep sided roads that funnel the water to vulnerable streets
- there has been an increase in heavy intense rainfall
- run-off water volume exceeds the capacity of the sewer systems
- there are tidal challenges - if heavy rainfall coincides with a high tide, the water exits can become ‘tide-locked’, causing a back-up in the drainage system
Why this flooding is an issue
- There are currently 147 properties within the Lipson Vale area that are at risk of surface water flooding that will be better protected by this project
- Dealing with flooding can cause severe long-lasting mental health consequences, including depression, anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Fully drying out, repairing and restoring a home after a flood event costs on average £32,000
- Flooding causes road closures and disruption to local businesses and schools
How the flood relief scheme will improve the lives of people in the local area
- Less likelihood of flooded residential properties, so residents at risk will feel safer
- Less likelihood of local schools and businesses being affected by flooding
- Roads and pavements less likely to be closed because of flood water
- An improved local park with new trees, plants, and a new amenity pond, creating a richer habitat for wildlife and more opportunities to connect with nature
- New paths, including enhanced cycling provision, and new seating
- Enhanced water quality in the River Plym due to the reduction in combined sewer overflow (CSO) spills
Scheme Consultation
In October 2024, Plymouth City Council’s BRIC and Engineering Design Teams held public information sessions to present updated proposals for the scheme. Letters were sent to residents and businesses within a 500m boundary of the park and information about the scheme was provided via this webpage and local social media channels.
Residents fed back online and also through three face-to-face information events. The public information report summarises the results of the engagement and includes Plymouth City Council’s responses to any comments.
A previous public consultation about the scheme took place in November/December 2021.
In the original design, nearly 100 trees would have needed to be felled. Following discussions with a specialist arboriculturist, the design was revised, which led to only five trees and associated vegetation being removed in February 2025.
What to expect during the construction works
The construction period for the scheme will run from May 2025 to February 2026. During this time, the main part of the park will be fenced off. However, access will be retained from Compton Vale down the eastern side of the park into Trefusis Gardens and through the woodland areas on either side of the park.
We may be able to re-open the park in phases as construction completes. However, this will very much depend on health and safety considerations and weather conditions.
The play area will now be open for the entirety of the works. Originally it was scheduled to be closed until June and then again for a period between October and December. But having looked at the work schedule, contractor Kier have been able to move things around to keep the play area both accessible and safe to use during the construction phases.
Whilst this is not anticipated to change, if there is a need to temporarily close it for safety reasons we will let you know.
Access to Trefusis Gardens will be maintained at all times. Also, Trefusis Gardens will not be used for construction traffic – Kier will create a new site entrance at the southern end of the park and will construct a haul road through the park.
Agreed working hours for the construction crew are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. There may be occasional weekend working if required, but this is likely to be infrequent.
Apart from the times when large lorries will bring fill material into the park and during some limited breaking up of concrete, there will be no excessively noisy operations.
Once construction completes, there are likely to be areas of landscaping that will be temporarily fenced off to allow planting to establish. However, footpaths will remain available for use. Once the planting is established, the fencing will be removed.
