London Could Become A ‘Sponge City’ Like Beijing And Auckland – But What Does That Actually Mean?

Rain, rain - go away, come again another day (preferably when London has become spongey and absorbent enough to handle it).

Katie Forge - Staff Writer • 30 May, 2024

An image of a red telephone box and Big Ben on a rainy day in London — Credit: stockelements, Shutterstock

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Gather round, folks – it’s time to chat about every Brit’s favourite topic: the weather. Now, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s been pretty darn drizzly lately – and it sure is putting a dampener on our springy, summery spirits.

With the rumours that this summer is set to be one of the wettest in history, it’s no wonder us Londoners are feeling a little bit sorry for ourselves. And as much as I would love to come bearing much brighter (and drier) news, it seems as though the rain is going to just keep coming.

A person dressed in red cycles through the rain in London. — Credit: Unsplash

London is increasingly at risk of flash flooding, something that experts have referred to as one of the biggest environmental risks facing people living in the capital city. After severe flooding in the city back in 2021, a report released by the London Climate Resilience Review found that London was ‘underprepared’ for climate change and referred to flash floods as a ‘lethal risk’ to Londoners. Uh oh.

Because our concrete jungle is so… well… concrete-y, London is unable to absorb vast amounts of rainwater. This leads to overwhelmed drainage systems and flooded road surfaces. So, what can be done about it? Well, one proposed solution is to turn London into a ‘sponge city’.

Heavy traffic and flooding on Tower Bridge — Credit: muratart, Shutterstock

What is a ‘sponge city’?

A sponge city is essentially an urban area, specifically design to absorb large amounts of rainwater. To create a sponge city, more absorbent spaces such as parks, wetlands, ponds and rivers are built in the city to prevent the need to remove water via sewage pipes. As well as flood prevention, sponge city’s offer other benefits such as more community green spaces, improved air and water quality, and better biodiversity.

However, concerns have been raised about making London a sponge city due to the lack of space to accommodate the more spongey areas, as well as the high cost of it will incur. The effectiveness of sponge cities is still being tested worldwide. Beijing, Aukland, Toronto, and New York are among the current sponge cities in the world.

Sponge cities have been criticised for for being designed to deal with the problems in the present, rather than the long term causes of climate change. It’s yet undecided as to whether or not London will become a sponge city but discussions and strategies are ongoing, with the aim of creating a healthier environment and a more resilient future.