Resilient river landscapes – River Cole realignment: mitigating climate change through landscape design

The River Cole is located within the southernmost section of the Delta Junction, a triangular section of High Speed Two (HS2) Phase One, where the route curves west towards Birmingham and runs north towards Crewe. In order to accommodate the HS2 route the River Cole will be realigned.

Referencing the HS2 key design principles of Conserve, Enhance, Restore and Transform this paper considers the effectiveness of the project specific design guidance and industry-wide best practice in delivering the River Cole realignment, whilst maintaining and ultimately improving a holistic river environment:

Conservation of existing elements within the landscape means preserving the environment and landscape character including the local heritage site at Coleshill Manor;

Landscape Enhancement will require integrating the displaced river into the existing landscape through designing new bank shapes, contouring and meanders to create a diverse natural river channel over time;

Restoring the landscape during and after the construction phase, then emphasising its unique character, is key. The realignment of the river will allow new shallows, riffles and pools to be created. Reconnecting footpaths along the river will be an added benefit for the local community.

Transformation of the river landscape requires the development of a robust and species rich wetland ecology around the river.

The design process for the displaced river is driven by habitat creation, improved biodiversity and landscape enhancement realised though the collaboration of several disciplines aimed at climate resilience and a richer tapestry of life through biodiversity.

This paper concludes how these principles have been implemented in the design and whether the results can be deemed best practice for similar projects on river restoration and riparian enhancement.