Black Brook Corridor Management Plan

The site forms the northern extent of Sankey Valley Country Park; stretching south through St Helens and into Warrington along the St Helens (or Sankey) Canal, which eventually reaches the River Mersey at Spike Island in Widnes. Known as the Sankey Navigation, the St Helens Canal was built in 1755 to link the south Lancashire coalfields to the markets of Liverpool and Cheshire. It was the first canal in England and subsequently brought about the growth and industrial development of St Helens.

Black Brook was canalised to provide a water supply for the Sankey Canal around 1757. The canal infrastructure has declined since its closure in 1963 resulting in the breaking down of walling and partial reclamation by nature, particularly through fluvial processes. This has resulted in an extremely valuable mix of habitats, heritage and landscape character along a popular recreational area. A long term strategy needs to ensure that this balance is maintained and enhanced.

Stanley Bank was, and still is, being developed as a heritage and education destination through a partnership including Sankey Canal Restoration Society, Groundwork Merseyside, the Environment Agency, Mersey Industrial Heritage Society and St Helens Council.

Overview

  • Project Name

    Black Brook Corridor Management Plan

  • Location

    St Helen's, Merseyside

  • Category

    Coastal, waterways and wetlands

  • Landscape Architect

    The Environment Partnership (TEP) Ltd

  • Client

    St Helen's Council

  • Brief

    To develop a sustainable and innovative management plan for the StanleyBank reach of the Black Brook, addressing access, biodiversity, heritage and Hydrology/Flooding.

  • Awards

    Highly Commended LI Awards 2013, Science, Management and Stewardship category

Details

  • Project Team

    Environmental Consultants: The Environment Partnership (TEP) Project Partner/Client/Funding: Environment Agency; Natural England; Mersey Forest; Project Partner/Funding: The National Lottery/Heritage Lottery Fund Project Partner/Landscape Architects for Access Improvement Works: Groundwork Merseyside

  • Local planning authority or government body

    St Helen's Council

  • Year Completed

    2011

  • Project Size

    14.8 hectares

  • Contract Value

    '£10,800

  • Capital Funding

    The National Lottery/Heritage Lottery Fund | Environment Agency |

Technicals

  • Materials

    The Stanley Bank reach of Black Brook is prone to periodic flooding which causes severe erosion to the riparian footpath creating risk to walkers, damage to habitats and increased revenue costs. Flooding is likely to increase due to more extreme weather, warmer wetter winters and intense rainfall. As part of the access improvement works by Groundwork Merseyside, erosion control will be installed in the form of bags along the bank, which help provide a more stable edge to the footpath whilst at the same time allowing vegetation to colonise.

  • The Environment Partnership (TEP) Ltd

    Registered Practice - (21 + Employees)
    Profile

  • Approximate Map Location

    Location

    St Helen's, Merseyside

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