With 100,000 homes in Hull and the East Riding at risk of flooding our ambition is to invest in blue green infrastructure schemes to increase surface water flood resilience.
As the Living with Water partnership, we’re committed to working closely with residents and communities to shape the future of flood resilience in their areas. At Bilton Community Primary School, we've installed a variety of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) to help reduce the risk of flooding.
SuDS are designed to replicate natural drainage processes - slowing down the flow of rainwater, capturing it where it falls, and temporarily storing excess water during heavy rainfall. This approach not only helps manage surface water more effectively but also supports greener, more sustainable spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Bilton Community Primary School SuDS scheme
We’ve been working closely with Bilton Community Primary School, as part of a wider flood resilience scheme in Bilton, to better understand the local flood risk - both through detailed modelling by our engineering team and through our research initiative, MAGIC. The early stages of this collaboration brought exciting changes to the school grounds, including the creation of an outdoor classroom and a wildlife pond, delivered through the MAGIC scheme (see images below).
These features provide a rich outdoor learning environment where children can connect with nature, explore their local surroundings, and plant wildflowers. Our scheme builds on this foundation, enhancing the school’s outdoor spaces while supporting flood resilience. It’s a great example of how climate adaptation can also create inspiring places for children to learn and grow.
Our education team visited Bilton Community Primary School to co-design the SuDS scheme with Year 6 pupils. The session began with a lesson on the water cycle, helping students understand just how little usable water exists on our planet, and why it’s so important to protect and value it. They also explored how capturing and reusing rainwater can help communities like Hull become more resilient to flooding.
The students eagerly took on the challenge of designing green spaces for their school. Their ideas directly influenced the final scheme, which was developed by our principal engineers at Stantec. These SuDS features have now been installed, alongside additional flood alleviation measures, transforming the school grounds into a more sustainable and flood-resilient environment.
Bringing the SuDS Vision to Life
As part of the scheme, we installed three rainwater planters and one extra-large planter, all connected to the school’s roof downpipes. These features help to slow the flow of rainwater, reducing surface water runoff. They also double as vibrant habitats for wildlife - supporting local biodiversity while offering hands-on learning opportunities for students.
To further enhance flood resilience, we constructed a swale and expanded the school’s existing pond. These natural features not only manage water more sustainably but also provide interactive ways for children to engage with the environment.
Within the playground, we installed a tree pit with underground water storage and worked with students to redesign the playground markings - creating a space that’s both fun and functional. We also improved drainage across the site by installing new channel drains and resurfacing the school car park.
The Bilton Community Primary School project has delivered a range of benefits. Most importantly, it has reduced flood risk for the school and surrounding area. But it has also enriched the educational experience, giving students the chance to learn about water management, sustainability, and the natural world in a truly immersive way.
Scheme visuals
Frequently asked questions
- What work is taking place currently in my area?
At the moment we are installing various sustainable drainage schemes in the village and more can be found in our Bilton page.
- What is surface water flooding?
Surface water flooding happens when rainwater does not drain away through the normal drainage systems or soak into the ground, but lies on or flows over the ground instead, causing potential risks of flooding to properties. (Source: GOVUK)
- Who is responsible for the scheme?
This scheme is a Living With Water scheme, meaning the parties involved in the Partnership (Yorkshire Water, Hull City Council, Environment Agency, East Riding of Yorkshire Council) are responsible for parts of or all of the works.
- Will it cost me any money?
The scheme did not cost residents any money. It is funded through the Living With Water Partnership which, in turn, has received money from the Government to put in place schemes to provide infrastructure in Hull to mitigate flooding.
- What if my school wants to be more flood resilient?
The Living with Water partners are committed to improving flood resilience across Hull and the East Riding, and have a number of education offerings available to deliver in schools. From installing SuDS, to delivering Living with Water lessons, If you work at an education establishment and would like to learn more, please get in touch at enquiries@livingwithwater.co.uk
