Aqua Trove

Page 1

aqua

trove

INTRODUCTION Following increasing environmental concerns and the announcement of the proposed development for the Harrow and Wealdstone Opportunity Area in London, considering the future of Harrow has never been more important. Harrow offers a unique location for alleviating housing pressures in central London. It provides an easy commute into the centre whilst also delivering a more tranquil environment where individuals can feel closer to nature. This connection between humans and nature is becoming increasingly important to understand as environmental concerns bring growing risk the area. The reality of climate change means the UK is likely to experience more intense climates with increased rainfall, hotter summers, and colder winters. Risk from flooding on urban environments is due to increase and continuing with existing policies in urban design is no longer enough. This has been experienced in Harrow with a growing number of flood incidences. These are expected to rise without the introduction of more sustainable urban design. Since flooding cannot be eliminated, adaptation measures need to be taken to manage the risk from these unpredictable weather patterns. These can be integrated within urban design such as increased planting, using permeable paving, and creating flood catchment areas. This can help reduce the effects of climate change by increasing oxygen supply, slowing water runoff, and reducing the energy required to treat water as less water reaches the sewer system. Implementing these measures into the future development of Harrow would help ensure that the area meets the needs of both present and future generations. By addressing this concern of flooding through a sustainable lens, this strategy draws attention to the importance of bringing longevity to the Harrow and Wealdstone Opportunity Area beyond those proposed in the existing plans.

LOCATION Situated to the North-West of central London in the outer borough of Harrow, the Harrow and Wealdstone Opportunity Area sits in an enviable location. It includes part of London’s Green Belt and borders Hertfordshire to the North, whilst also offering direct links into centre of London. This balance between nature and the city make the area highly popular and it experiences wide cultural diversity. As a suburb in the South East of the United Kingdom, the area has a typically warm and temperate climate, with significant rainfall throughout the year. Rainfall often travels fairly rapidly across the contours of the borough as the ground is predominantly a mixture of clay and loamy soil. This type of soil is very dense and subsequently unable to absorb significant quantities of excess water.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.