GCV Green Network
Connecting Our Quality Spaces

As well as becoming a major new outdoor visitor attraction we hope that the Wetland Park will be an exemplar of high quality, multi-functional green network planning, design and management. Community Growth Areas (CGAs) and other planned development must be integrated with the Wetland Park vision and masterplan.

The proposed Wetland Park area includes important wetland habitats, including two SSSIs, within the upper catchments of 4 burns. These areas provide important ‘ecosystem services’, including holding back water to prevent flooding further downstream, filtering out pollutants and soaking up carbon dioxide.

A major hydrological study of the area has been carried out to examine how surface water management within the proposed Wetland Park can ensure that the impact of new development is minimised, and that ecosystem services are sustained through the creation of new green infrastructure. The study has delivered the following outputs;

Hydrological Model

Drawing on a huge range of data sources and on best practice guidance AECOM constructed a comprehensive hydrological model for the study area. The large number of lochs and wetlands meant that the model had to accurately determine water levels and storage volumes. Full hydrographs of flow against time as well as peak flow estimates were calculated for every sub-catchment in what AECOM described as ‘one of the most comprehensive hydrological models we have ever developed’.

Flood Risk Assessment

Flood areas and flood risk for a range of flood event scenarios, including events including predicted climate change, were calculated. Interactions between surface water and the sewerage system were also examined. Flood extents were examined in detail against the proposed layout for each of the CGAs in the Wetland Park vision and masterplan – showing clearly where new development could be at risk from flooding.

Gartloch Gartcosh Surface Water Management Strategy

Drawing on SuDS guidance the strategy aims to attenuate future runoff to the undeveloped ‘greenfield’ runoff rates, prevent increased flood risk downstream of the CGAs, and balance environmental constraints and opportunities. It extends beyond current SuDS guidance, proposing that Surface Water Management Plans are developed for each GCA to guide the creation of new integrated green infrastructure, including green street layouts, new surface water floodplains, and habitat creation linked to surrounding wetlands.

Adoption and maintenance is a key aspect of any SuDS system, but can be a barrier to more innovative design. Building on the Green Network’s Integrated Green Infrastructure (IGI) project the SWMS report proposes a new approach to surface water management that aims to achieve greater multi-functionality and a better balance of risk and benefits. It sets out a clear, logical approach to adoption of surface water management system elements, and a schedule for maintenance and monitoring.

Next Steps

The hydrological model and flood risk assessment provide a sound baseline and identify key issues and constraints from which to plan future surface water management.

We will use the SWMS report to underpin the preparation of masterplans for new development within the Gartloch Gartcosh growth corridor. We will also use the hydrological model to look at surface water management across the park area – working in partnership with SEPA, the MGSDP and local authorities to look at how this could help reduce flood risk in areas downstream of the Wetland Park.

For more, see related project: Integrated Green Infrastructure.