“Decarbonisation and resilience are two of the key challenges identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in the ICE Plan. I hope readers will take inspiration from and, perhaps even visit, this award-winning scheme in the South West.”
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Despite all the trials and tribulations at the Knowle site over the years, the amphitheatre in the Knowle Gardens is pretty impressive:
Sidmouth Amphitheater: Flood defenses with a theatrical twist | Jacobs
Sidmouth Flood Alleviation Scheme – The journey of the project – YouTube
So impressive, that in November last year it got itself a couple of awards
Double success for Sidmouth amphitheatre in civil engineering awards | Sidmouth Herald
Here’s what the New Civil Engineer has to say about it:
But while we must make greater efforts to decarbonise, the effects of climate change are already bearing down upon our infrastructure.
Our panel of judges and public voters agreed that the Sidmouth Flood Alleviation Scheme deserved recognition in this area. The scheme will protect 64 homes and businesses from flooding by diverting surface water from a road into Knowle Park. A combination of floodwater storage crates and sustainable drainage will channel the water underground where it can be stored and absorbed. This is all hidden beneath a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre.
Six hundred thousand properties could face a high risk of flooding from surface water by mid-century, according to the National Infrastructure Commission. Its recent report recommends expanding drainage capacity and reducing the amount of run off into existing drainage systems. The project at Sidmouth is exactly the kind of engineering we need to avert the risks from more extreme rainfall and urban development.
Decarbonisation and resilience are two of the key challenges identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in the ICE Plan. I hope readers will take inspiration from and, perhaps even visit, these two award-winning schemes in the South West.
Spotlight | Local Solutions to global challenges | New Civil Engineer