The geology of this area is a fundamental factor in lical surface water flooding. More permeable deposits to the north of Little Ealing Lane (approximately) are followed by less permeable clay deposits to the south. Old maps of the area show a series of natural ponds extending from the site of Reynard Mills eastwards to Ealing Park and to the Potomac Lake in Gunnersury Park. Clay was extracted from this area for local potteries - hence the name "Clayponds".
The planning permission for Reynard Mills included "green and brown" roofs, permeable hard surfaces, and onsite attenuation tanks. The extent to which these measures have been successful is probably unknown.
The permission for Churchill House proposes a similar range of measures to mitigate surface water flooding. A further planning application, providing more details on flooding mitigation, has yet to be submitted |