Flood‑alleviation work starts at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads, reducing risk for Burnt Oak residents
Construction begins this month and will create basins, planting and landscaped mounds funded by a £6 million Defra programme
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Barnet Council will start construction this month on a flood‑alleviation scheme that covers Lyndhurst Park and The Meads Open Space in Burnt Oak. The works aim to reduce flood risk for surrounding homes, businesses and streets and to add biodiversity to the parks, as reported by the Barnet & Potters Bar Times.
Why the scheme is needed
Burnt Oak brook reshaping to improve flood defences
Works begin this month at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads Open Space as part of a £6 million project.
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said the area has seen an increase in heavy rainfall events that raise the chance of surface flooding. He added that the new basins will help manage water more effectively than the existing drainage network, which struggles during intense storms.
What the works will involve
Barnet Council said the project will reshape parts of Burnt Oak Brook, install new flood‑storage basins, stabilise slopes beside the watercourse and plant wetland vegetation. Meadow areas, low‑lying mounds and wider landscaping will be added across both green spaces. The basins are designed to be dry most of the year, allowing the grassed surfaces to remain usable for recreation.
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“This will help address the increasing risk posed by climate change. While reducing the risk of flooding, it will also provide a more biodiverse and picturesque amenity space for residents to enjoy throughout the year.”
Alan Schneiderman, Councillor, cabinet member for environment and climate change
Funding and how residents can stay informed
The scheme is funded through the £6 million Action for Silk Stream programme, which Barnet secured from Defra’s Flood and Coastal Innovation programmes. The Environment Agency manages the programme. Residents can find project details and updates on Thames21’s Action for Silk Stream webpage, which the council has linked to in its communications.
Questions this report answers
+When will the flood‑alleviation works start?
Barnet Council confirmed that construction will begin this month at Lyndhurst Park and The Meads Open Space in Burnt Oak. The start date follows the council’s approval of the Action for Silk Stream scheme and the allocation of £6 million funding.
+What does the scheme include?
The scheme will reshape parts of Burnt Oak Brook, add flood‑storage basins, stabilise slopes, and introduce wetland planting, meadow areas, low‑lying mounds and wider landscaping. The basins are designed to be dry most of the time, keeping the parks usable for recreation.
+How is the project being funded?
Funding comes from the £6 million Action for Silk Stream programme, which Barnet secured from Defra’s Flood and Coastal Innovation programmes. The Environment Agency manages the programme, and the council is responsible for delivering the works on the two parks.
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