Severe rainfall events had repeatedly overwhelmed the visitor car park and library at the University Park Campus, causing surface water flooding, disruption to visitors, significant damage to buildings and highlighting limitations in the existing drainage network’s capacity.
Addressing this challenge became a key objective of a major flood mitigation and car park regeneration programme, which brought together a multidisciplinary team including hydrological consultants Stantec, and contractors Jointline Construction ltd, with external project and cost management being carried out by Jones Lang LaSalle.
The design team undertook a landscape-led approach to water management, recognising that conventional pipe-and-tank drainage alone would not sufficiently mitigate the risk posed by increasingly intense rainfall events. Instead, the strategy centred on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that manage water at source, slowing flows, improving water quality, and enhancing biodiversity. Within this strategy, GreenBlue Urban’s HydroPlanter rain garden system was specified as a principal component due to its ability to combine stormwater attenuation, bioretention, and amenity value in a single modular solution.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Severe rainfall events had repeatedly overwhelmed the visitor car park and library at the University Park Campus, causing surface water flooding, disruption to visitors, significant damage to buildings and highlighting limitations in the existing drainage network’s capacity.
Addressing this challenge became a key objective of a major flood mitigation and car park regeneration programme, which brought together a multidisciplinary team including hydrological consultants Stantec, and contractors Jointline Construction ltd, with external project and cost management being carried out by Jones Lang LaSalle.
The design team undertook a landscape-led approach to water management, recognising that conventional pipe-and-tank drainage alone would not sufficiently mitigate the risk posed by increasingly intense rainfall events. Instead, the strategy centred on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) that manage water at source, slowing flows, improving water quality, and enhancing biodiversity. Within this strategy, GreenBlue Urban’s HydroPlanter rain garden system was specified as a principal component due to its ability to combine stormwater attenuation, bioretention, and amenity value in a single modular solution.
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Project
Location
Contractor
Landscape Architect
Alongside the HydroPlanter system, GreenBlue Urban’s AshMAX soil was incorporated as the engineered growing medium within the rain garden build-up. AshMAX was selected specifically as a great growing media and optimised permeability, making it well-suited for sustainable plant growth and handling regular storm events. Its carefully graded composition maintains consistent infiltration rates, ensuring effective stormwater treatment and storage. The use of AshMAX also supports healthy root development and long-term plant establishment, which is critical to the bioretention function and visual success of the scheme.
The HydroPlanter system itself consists of interlocking, modular units that can be configured to suit site constraints. Each unit creates void space capable of temporarily storing stormwater runoff, while engineered soil media and planting within the structure support natural filtration. During rainfall events, runoff from paved areas is directed into the HydroPlanter modules where water is held and allowed to infiltrate through the soil profile. Cleaned water is then released at a controlled rate into the wider drainage system, reducing peak flows and alleviating pressure on downstream infrastructure.
At the University of Nottingham site, HydroPlanter units were integrated within newly landscaped rain garden corridors throughout the car park. Their modular nature allowed Jointline Construction Ltd to adapt the layout to the phasing of car park resurfacing and drainage upgrades, ensuring that SuDS installation progressed in tandem with other civil works.
Importantly, the HydroPlanter rain gardens provide multiple benefits beyond flood mitigation. The planted units, supported by the performance characteristics of AshMax soil, have introduced green infrastructure into a previously hard-scaped car park, delivering year-round visual interest and supporting a diversity of plant and insect species. This aligns with broader campus sustainability goals and contributes to an enhanced experience for visitors and staff.
The installation’s performance has already been demonstrated during storm events following completion of Phase 1 works, with significantly reduced surface flooding and more effective flow attenuation across the site. This outcome underscores the value of combining engineered SuDS elements, soil technology, and landscape design, enabling the University to manage water in a way that is both technically robust and ecologically integrated.
Alongside the HydroPlanter system, GreenBlue Urban’s AshMAX soil was incorporated as the engineered growing medium within the rain garden build-up. AshMAX was selected specifically as a great growing media and optimised permeability, making it well-suited for sustainable plant growth and handling regular storm events. Its carefully graded composition maintains consistent infiltration rates, ensuring effective stormwater treatment and storage. The use of AshMAX also supports healthy root development and long-term plant establishment, which is critical to the bioretention function and visual success of the scheme.
The HydroPlanter system itself consists of interlocking, modular units that can be configured to suit site constraints. Each unit creates void space capable of temporarily storing stormwater runoff, while engineered soil media and planting within the structure support natural filtration. During rainfall events, runoff from paved areas is directed into the HydroPlanter modules where water is held and allowed to infiltrate through the soil profile. Cleaned water is then released at a controlled rate into the wider drainage system, reducing peak flows and alleviating pressure on downstream infrastructure.
At the University of Nottingham site, HydroPlanter units were integrated within newly landscaped rain garden corridors throughout the car park. Their modular nature allowed Jointline Construction Ltd to adapt the layout to the phasing of car park resurfacing and drainage upgrades, ensuring that SuDS installation progressed in tandem with other civil works.
Importantly, the HydroPlanter rain gardens provide multiple benefits beyond flood mitigation. The planted units, supported by the performance characteristics of AshMax soil, have introduced green infrastructure into a previously hard-scaped car park, delivering year-round visual interest and supporting a diversity of plant and insect species. This aligns with broader campus sustainability goals and contributes to an enhanced experience for visitors and staff.
The installation’s performance has already been demonstrated during storm events following completion of Phase 1 works, with significantly reduced surface flooding and more effective flow attenuation across the site. This outcome underscores the value of combining engineered SuDS elements, soil technology, and landscape design, enabling the University to manage water in a way that is both technically robust and ecologically integrated.
The collaborative nature of the project was central to its success. From the early involvement of Stantec in master planning and hydraulic design, through to operational delivery by Jointline Construction Ltd, the project exemplifies how multidisciplinary teams can deliver resilient infrastructure that meets both functional and environmental objectives.
In summary, the University of Nottingham visitor car park regeneration demonstrates how GreenBlue Urban’s HydroPlanter system, complemented by AshMAX soil technology, can play a pivotal role in SuDS schemes. Its modular flexibility, combined with robust structural and hydrological performance and strong amenity value, makes it a powerful solution for managing stormwater in constrained urban settings.
The collaborative nature of the project was central to its success. From the early involvement of Stantec in master planning and hydraulic design, through to operational delivery by Jointline Construction Ltd, the project exemplifies how multidisciplinary teams can deliver resilient infrastructure that meets both functional and environmental objectives.
In summary, the University of Nottingham visitor car park regeneration demonstrates how GreenBlue Urban’s HydroPlanter system, complemented by AshMAX soil technology, can play a pivotal role in SuDS schemes. Its modular flexibility, combined with robust structural and hydrological performance and strong amenity value, makes it a powerful solution for managing stormwater in constrained urban settings.
