Richmond Council has won national recognition for its work on the pioneering Community BlueScapes project, which has delivered an innovative new flood-resilient street in the borough.

At the 2025 Highways Awards last week, the Kitson Road scheme won the Steve Berry Highways Authority Innovation Award and was also a finalist in the Environmental Sustainability Award.

Meanwhile, the refurbishment of Teddington Lock Footbridges was shortlisted for the prestigious Bridge Project of the Year Award.

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, Chair of Richmond Council's Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee, said: "The borough's first fully permeable road demonstrates our commitment to sustainable water management and climate resilience.

"Kitson Road shows that we can reimagine our streets to protect homes from flooding, while creating attractive, functional places for residents. I'm delighted this innovative project has been recognised on a national stage."

The Kitson Road project, delivered by Community BlueScapes, a Defra-funded partnership between Richmond Council, Barnes Common Ltd and WWT, is the first fully permeable public road in the borough.

By using permeable paving, permeable asphalt and Hydrorock™, the street can absorb rainfall, reduce surface water flooding and filter out pollutants, helping to protect 25 local homes from flooding.

The design also features innovative EV charging gullies, allowing residents to charge their cars without paving over front gardens. This protects green space while supporting sustainable transport.

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