Permeable paving is set to be installed outside County Hall as part of new measures to help protect against storm overflows and flood risks while bringing community benefits.
The project will transform part of Newport High Street into an urban sponge, designed to absorb and hold rainwater.
Not only will the new paving look smart and be good for the environment, it'll also help to stop local drains and sewers becoming overwhelmed during heavy rain and reduce the need for overflows to be used.
Work on the sustainable drainage system (SuDS) is due to start next Monday (18 November) and last around two months. Access to County Hall will be maintained at all times.
It comes as the Isle of Wight Council signed a motion earlier this year to end all sewage discharges into seas and watercourses by 2030.
Natasha Dix, service director for waste, environment and planning, said:
"Part of the council's work is to manage surface water in the best possible way to help reduce the likelihood of flooding in our communities.
"The idea of this scheme and others planned for the Island is to help protect homes and businesses from flooding by slowing the flow of surface water which typically runs straight off roads and into the combined sewer network.
"This action will stop the sewers from being overloaded, by keeping this water in the ground instead, helping to reduce storm overflows which we know can harm the environment.
"While this scheme has a very real purpose of reducing flooding at Coppins Bridge, it will also improve how the area looks by replacing the existing patchwork of paving slabs with a smart new surface, right in the heart of the town."
In total, around 250 sqm of impermeable surface — around the size of a tennis court — will be replaced with permeable paving, while four new tree pits will prevent up to 26,000 litres of rainwater from entering local drains and sewers.
These trees will replace those which sadly had to be removed from the front of County Hall due to disease.
The sustainable drainage system will provide not only a larger, more suitable soil volume than a traditional tree pit, but also a water supply for the trees. This will hopefully provide a healthier environment for the replacement trees to flourish in
It was during the summer that Southern Water and the council agreed a new partnership to transform urban areas across the Island with nature-based SuDS.
The aim is to help communities become more resilient against the increasing threat of flooding from climate change.
In order to stop storm overflows by 2030, runoff from more than 100km of roads on the Isle of Wight will have to be managed.
Councillor Paul Fuller, Cabinet member for planning, coastal protection and flooding, said:
"We are excited to be working alongside Southern Water in delivering this innovative scheme in Newport.
"These schemes fit perfectly with our plans to stop storm overflows by 2030 and commitment to support ocean recovery in all our decision and policy-making as endorsed by Full Council last year."
Harry Buckingham, pathfinder engineer for Southern Water, added:
“We’re really pleased to be working closely with Isle of Wight Council on managing impermeable areas and helping us in our shared goal of creating healthier rivers and seas.
“Our work on the island has already prevented more than 300 storm overflows from activating, and this is just the start as we continue to work on nature-based and engineering solutions to keeping extra surface water out of our sewers.
“Currently, around half of what passes through our sewers comes as a result of water simply running off impermeable surfaces like roads, pavements and car parks.
"This can overload our network so it is vital we make these areas drain more slowly and sustainably — in doing so customers can look forward to seeing greener and more attractive urban areas that also reduce flood risk.”
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