Project overview
The Burton Washlands Landscape Vision focuses on a 630-ha floodplain in Burton upon Trent and sets a new shared vision that reconnects the town and its community with the River Trent, thereby enhancing the natural capital value of significant green and blue infrastructure assets. The project evolved out of Binnies’ work in delivering the Burton upon Trent flood risk management scheme and won the 2018 Landscape Institute Award for Local Landscape Planning.
View the project’s storymapOur role
We led a collaborative process to reimagine the Washlands, worked closely with a range of local stakeholders and supported community consultation. The existing design and management plan failed to respond to the frequent flooding; areas designated as recreational space and amenity parkland were commonly under water. We identified opportunities to cater better for both people and nature through a more naturalistic approach to the design and management of greenspace, new and improved wetland habitats, improved access and connections between the town and the Washlands, and improved environmental interpretation and education facilities.
Through collaboration between our landscape team, environmental economists and ecologists, we valued the existing baseline and proposed enhancements in terms of natural capital at £2.7m PVb (40years), helping to secure £2.5 million in partnership funding for project delivery. An estimated 155 tC will be sequestered by the proposed habitat enhancements. We have subsequently developed detailed designs and gained planning consent for construction.
- Reconciling contrasting stakeholder views and perceptions about what good green space design and management look like
- Ensuring the proposals reflected and responded to a wealth of existing ideas, aspirations and previous strategies and consultations
- Generating momentum and belief in a new vision, and avoiding ‘consultation fatigue’ on a locally long debated subject
- Early, effective and efficient engagement with decision-makers and influencers
- Award-winning and digitally enabled landscape design and stakeholder engagement techniques
- Integrating landscape and green infrastructure planning with natural capital assessment and valuation
- Strong design concepts supported by clear visualisations and artists’ impressions
Project gallery
The 7 hectare first stage of environmental and public amenity assets are now open to the public
Visitors can now enjoy a timber play area designed around natural play principles, new boardwalks, clearly marked trails, and improved access throughout the riverside. The Garden of Remembrance has also been redesigned with fresh landscaping, seating, and pathways, providing a calm spot to pause, stroll, or take in scenic riverside views. Ecological improvements have strengthened the Washlands’ natural environment and resilience to flooding. New wetlands and carefully planned planting across the river and meadows create habitats that support local wildlife, while helping to manage water naturally. These enhancements create a greener, more resilient riverside where people and nature can flourish side by side.
The riverside space balances play, community and conservation.
A credited and trusted project
2018 Landscape Institute Award (Local Landscape Planning), 2019 NCE100 Awards (collaboration) and 2020 CIEEM Awards (stakeholder engagement).
Used as a best practice exemplar at the 2019 Flood & Coast Conference, for the Ecosystems Knowledge Network and in ThinkGIS journal.
