Church Lane Rain Gardens

The London Borough of Waltham Forest has successfully secured Central Government funding to upgrade planting in Church Lane. This work responds to feedback from Leytonstone residents who have requested more greening in the town centre to create a more welcoming space.

We are planning to replace the existing planted barrels and stone features with three permanent rain gardens. The plants chosen for the rain gardens include a range of pollinators to increase the area's biodiversity and attract insects, helping to create a thriving ecosystem. We will be reusing the existing feature stones in the new rain gardens and, if possible, replanting the existing plants.

As this is an area at medium risk of surface water flooding, the new rain gardens will play a crucial role in managing stormwater. They will collect the rainwater runoff from the  road and pavement, reducing flood risk by increasing the capacity of the drainage system and reducing the amount of hard landscaping at the location. The planters will then release the water slowly back into the subsoil and the sewers. 

The barrels were originally introduced in December 2020 across six parking bays. At the time, these bays not formally removed. As part of the planting upgrades, we will be finalising the removal of these bays, which have been out of use for many years.

The design proposal is subject to statutory consultation. This process involves advertising the necessary Traffic Management Orders (TMOs) associated with the changes to parking bays required to deliver the scheme. The TMOs will be advertised in the East London and West Essex Guardian on 21 November 2024. Street notices will also be displayed in the area with details of the changes.

The statutory consultation will take place between 21 November and 12 December 2024. During this time local people can write to us with comments on the final scheme. If you would like to provide feedback, please contact the Enjoy Waltham Forest team quoting “Church Lane” in the subject line of the email or letter, include your name and address and send it to the contact details below before 12 December 2024.

Following statutory consultation, we will review any feedback received and write to the local community again with an update on the planned works.

Church Lane rain gardens – statutory consultation leaflet – November 2024

If staff members are unavailable for any reason at 020 8496 3000, you may leave a telephone message requesting a call back from the Enjoy Waltham Forest Team.