50. Thames Water Sewage Treatment Works

Themes: Improving water quality and water quantity

• During the final two years of this investment period, Thames Water is spending £1.12 billion in their sewage treatment works (STW). This includes £650 million to improve resilience and provide extra capacity at many of their sites. Over the same period, Thames Water will spend £470 million on the wider sewer network.
• This has been their largest ever upgrade of sewers and STWs, with plans to improve more than 250 of their sites.
• Follow the link below to find information for each Thames Water sewage treatment works project.
• https://www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/performance/river-health/frequently-asked-questions/information-about-specific-sites

50. Windsor Drive Recreation Ground

Theme: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

Central Bedfordshire Council is proposing the build of 100 homes on the Windsor Drive recreation ground next to the Houghton Brook and there will be a planning for real consultation with local residents during 2021.  Read more ...

49. Luton Town Centre De-culverting

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Luton Borough Council and the Catchment Partnership are keen, where possible, that the current culverted sections of the river are brought back to the surface both for people to enjoy and for the health of the river environment.  Read more ...

36. Resilient and Adaptive Communities (RAC): Making Luton & Dunstable resilient to climate change

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

Vision & objectives: Working together to make our communities resilient to flood risk and adaptable to climate change.  Doing this in a way that also provides wider environmental, social and economic benefits. Read more ...

48. Riverside Park

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

Riverside Park is a linear park alongside the A6 New Bedford Road from Kingsland Avenue to Stockingstone Road and has a well-used path running through it. Read more ...

47. Manor Road Park to Osborne Road to A1081, Parkway

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

The catchment partnership has an aspiration to create an access link and associated river improvements to link the work at Manor Road Park to the A1081 to the south prior to the route entering Luton Hoo. Read more ...

46. M1 culverts

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

This project will incorporate a mammal ledge through the underpass to allow easier passage for wildlife. Also, to place gravels within the channel and create baffles to affect the flow of the water. Read more ...

45. Luton Hoo

Theme: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

This project will improve the health and habitat of the river which is being impacted by silt and pollutants that are generated further upstream. Read more ...

44. Invasive Non-Native Species - INNS

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

All rivers are affected by certain 'exotic' plants and animals that have been introduced to this country and that are out competing our native species. On the Lea and adjacent sites these include Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, Canadian golden rod and signal crayfish. Read more ...

43. Source of the Lewsey Brook

Themes: Improving water quality and water quantity

Luton Borough Council undertook improvement works at Pastures Way adjacent to the source of the Lewsey Brook to address flooding issues. Read more ...

42. Houghton Brook flood storage area

Theme: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

The Environment Agency is currently working on the development of a Flood Storage Area (FSA) to reduce the risk of flooding to people and property along the Houghton Brook and River Lea in Luton. Read more ...

41. Houghton Brook

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

This project will re-naturalise the Houghton Brook along its length where possible and re-meander where a straight man-made channel exists . Read more ...

40. Cat Brook

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Another tributary into the River Lea, the Cat Brook is culverted for its early stretches and then runs alongside an open space, created on an area of raised land, before joining the Lea. Read more ...

35. Brickley Road to Toddington Road, Luton

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

This is a project to improve a section of the Houghton Brook between backs of houses but which is well used as a local pedestrian and cycling route. Read more ...

37. Barnfield College, New Bedford Road

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

The Riddy Brook from Cowslip Meadow to Kingsdown Avenue is culverted under the A6 New Bedford Road until it joins with the River Lea and can be seen again at Kingsdown Avenue. Read more ...

39. The Moor river improvement project

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

The Moor river improvement project is one of a number of projects that are taking place as part of the Revitalising Chalk Rivers partnership, in collaboration with the Environment Agency. Read more ...

38. Moat Farm & Riddy Lane Allotments

Theme: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

The Moat Farm & Riddy Lane Allotment river improvement project is one of a number of projects that are taking place as part of the Revitalising Chalk Rivers partnership, in collaboration with the Environment Agency. These improvement works will help to restore and improve the habitat of chalk streams along the River Lea and rivers in other catchments. Read more ...

34. Leagrave Marsh improvements

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

Groundwork East, Environment Agency and Luton Borough Council have been working on the feasibility of options for river and habitat restoration work at Leagrave Common Marsh. Read more ...

33. Luton Water Wardens

Themes: Community engagement and participation

Volunteers are given training and support to talk to their communities about how to save water. Read more ...

32. Geomorphological works at Manor Road Park

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

In February 2016, Affinity Water and Luton Borough Council began working on an exciting project to enhance the local environment and habitat along part of the River Lea that runs through Manor Road Park in Luton. Read more ...

31. Sustainable Drainage Systems in Urban Areas: a feasibility study

Theme: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

A Cranfield University student's Masters thesis evaluated the potential use and benefits of installing sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in Lewsey estate in Luton. Read more ...

30. Source of the Houghton Brook

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

The source of the Houghton Brook lies within Houghton Hall Park which has recently undergone extensive improvements supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. However, the source of the river, on the edge of the park, is overgrown, neglected and invisible. Read more ...

29. Geomorphological works

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Working with the Environment Agency and landowners, Affinity Water is exploring opportunities for geomorphological improvements to the River Lea through Luton.  Read more ...

27. Cowslip Meadow Community Engagement

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Cowslip Meadow is a nationally important wetland, a local County Wildlife Site and on 14 October 2020 was awarded the status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England. Read more ...

26. LEAsurely Health Walks

Themes: Community engagement and participation

Through this project, Groundwork worked with Active Luton and Sustrans, who each lead health walks in the town, to create a series of fascinating fact sheets and purchase binoculars to make it easier to spot wildlife during walks that meander through our local parks and alongside the River Lea. Read more ...

24. Junior River Wardens

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Improving water quality and water quantity

Groundwork works with local schools and community groups on the Junior River Wardens project.  Read more ...

23. Greening Up with the John Muir Award

Themes: Community engagement and participation

A free course for adults suffering from or at risk of mental ill health that harnesses the healing power of nature. Read more ...

22. LoveLEA Art and Design projects with Barnfield College

Themes: Community engagement and participation

Art and Design students from Barnfield College used the River Lea as insipiration for their 'Exploring Specialist Techniques' module. Read more ...

21. LoveLEA campaign with University of Bedfordshire students

Themes: Community engagement and participation

Advertising and Brand Design students at the Univeristy of Bedfordshire have created campaigns to help raise awareness of the River Lea as it flows from its sources to Luton Hoo Lakes. Read more ...

20. Green Skills at Riverside Park

Themes: Community engagement and participation

Local people boosted their skills and employability with a free six-week course that saw a community allotment site created in Luton's Riverside Park on Bedford Road. Read more ...

19. Affinity Water plans

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Improving water quality and water quantity

Affinity Water is working with residents across the Luton Lea catchment area. Read more ...

18. Luton Lea Catchment Monitoring App research

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Improving water quality and water quantity

A Cranfield University student's Masters thesis is exploring the best ways of capturing monitoring data along the upper stretch of the River Lea. Read more ...

16. Countryside Stewardship

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Luton Borough Council secured Countryside Stewardship agreements for Leagrave Common and Waulud's Bank, commencing in January 2016. Read more ...

15. School Landscape Improvement Designs

Themes: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Groundwork Luton and Bedfordshire has produced a design for River Bank Primary School to improve their riverbank. Read more ...

25. Green Skills at Five Springs

Themes: Community engagement and participation

Groundwork ran a Green Skills employment training course in autumn 2016 to improve the March Farm entrance to Leagrave Park at the area known as Five Springs. Read more ...

14. Power Court

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

Deculverting of the river as part of development of the town centre. Read more ...

13. Team building: Certsure

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

In October 2014, a group of Certsure employees travelled from Houghton Regis to Leagrave Park for a team building day. Read more ...

12. Corporate volunteering and team building days

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

You and your colleagues can spend time together out of the office on our original, action-packed team building days. Not only will you have a chance to spend time with your workmates and learn new skills, you'll also be able to make a positive impact on the River Lea and surrounding areas. Read more ...

11. Renaissance and Renewal at Houghton Hall Park

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

This project will re-establish the character and appearance of this historic estate while making it more attractive, accessible and useable for local communities. Read more ...

10. Wardown Park & Lake

Theme: Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management; Improving water quality and water quantity

A number of changes to Wardown Lake will have a positive impact on the water and the wildlife. Read more ...

9. Floating Boom at Luton Hoo Lakes

Themes: Improving water quality and water quantity

This project was set up to observe the level of oils in surface water drainage from the roads and general catchment of South East Luton and to protect the river at Luton Hoo lakes. Read more ...

8. Only Rain Down the Drain

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Improving water quality and water quantity

What goes down your drain can end up in the River Lea, damaging wildlife and putting our health at risk. Everyone can help reduce this pollution by checking for misconnections and remembering that only rain goes down the drain! Read more ...

6. RiverLUTiON Volunteer River Monitors

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Improving water quality and water quantity

Groundwork East launched the RiverLUTiON project in the summer of 2017. Since then Groundwork has set up a team of 'Volunteer River Wardens', who following training are independently monitoring the health of the river. Read more ...

5. Green Skills in Rotten Spinney

Themes: Community engagement and participation

A six-week employment course that helped a group of local volunteers take the first steps back into work, education or training. Read more ...

4. River Lea Education Resources

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Improving water quality and water quantity

A variety of projects are available for schools and other educational centres throughout Luton. Read more ...

3. Luton Hoo Lake Research

Themes: Improving water quality and water quantity

The lakes at Luton Hoo are affected by pollution feeding into the River Lea from the urban area. Researching and monitoring this pollution now will mean that action can be taken to correct and prevent it in the future. Read more ...

2. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

Themes: Improving water quality and water quantity

We are considering how to improve or implement Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) at key sites along the River Lea in Luton. Read more ...

1. Source of the River Lea

Theme: Community engagement and participation; Promoting appropriate and sympathetic land management

Major works to restore and improve a wooded area around the Source of the River Lea in Luton’s Leagrave Park. Read more ...