Last updated on 13 November 2025
The flood alleviation basin at Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground, Chessington, to safeguard local homes from flooding was completed in September 2025.
It has been dedicated to the late former Chessington South and Malden Rushett councillor, Christine Stuart, who was instrumental in starting this project. The scheme is part of Kingston Council’s wider Local Flood Risk Management Strategy to help reduce the flood risk caused by development and inadequate sewer capacity. The basin will protect the recreation ground, roads and homes – particularly in Barwell Lane and Charles Babbage Close – from flooding. The tennis court has been reinstated with a new surface.
The flood alleviation basin is located between the tennis court and the children’s playground. Its purpose is to reduce the impact and frequency of flooding by redirecting and capturing the water runoff in the new basin and releasing it back into the Thames Water drainage system in a controlled way.
The basin is not a permanent pond, but an area that will capture excess water from time to time. It is designed to reach no more than one metre in depth. It will be surrounded by a permanent 1.2m high barrier, making it safe for residents and animals.
Earth excavated from the basin has been used elsewhere on recreation ground, providing some elevation to the grounds but retaining the existing sports pitches. This will help channel surface water to the drainage systems.
The basin area provides conditions conducive to the natural growth of a biodiverse habitat within the barrier.
Tree planting and biodiversity
The natural flooding and drying cycles create a lot of different habitats, from shallow pools to dry grasslands, supporting a wide range of species. Flood basins often hold plants and microorganisms that are adapted to live in newly created areas and thrive in changing conditions. All planting around the basin will be a mix of UK native wildflowers and grasses. Four trees will be removed (categorised as Category C by the recent arboriculture survey). These will be replaced by 10 new trees (3 x birch, 6 x apple and 1 x acer) between October 2025 and March 2026, dependent on the weather conditions.
Access and other improvements
Access between the recreation ground and Barwell Lane will be reinstated after the works have concluded. Other improvements include replacing the existing 3m high fence between the playground and new basin to a regular bow-top fence to match the existing fence around the playground. There will also be a new bench installed and the bins in front of the tennis court will be relocated as needed.
Further facts and figures about the scheme
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The maximum storage volume of the basin is 470 cubic metres, which is enough to store water up to a 1 in 100-year rainfall event plus a 40% allowance for climate change.
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The basin is about a metre deep.
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A hydro-brake flow control device will be installed to limit discharge to 12l/s with a weir overflow for extreme flows.
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Two 225mm diameter pipes will connect the ditch within the recreation ground alongside Barwell Lane underneath the tennis court to the basin.
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The ditch has been dredged.