CWM Tackles Flooding on the National Cycle Network with DfT Rural Transport Accelerator Programme
Civil Water Management is proud to be part of a pioneering project aimed at improving flood resilience on the Sustrans National Cycle Network—a crucial step toward building a more accessible, low-impact active travel infrastructure across the UK.
Sustrans are the UK charity responsible for maintaining over 12,700 miles of walking, wheeling, and cycling routes, this initiative explores how modular drainage systems can reduce flooding, improve usability, and deliver long-term environmental value across the national network.
The Challenge: Persistent Flooding and Poor Access
Flooding has long been a challenge for the National Cycle Network, particularly in the winter months. It poses serious accessibility issues, especially for disabled users and young families, and discourages regular use of the network.
One such site is a section of Route 6 between Milton Keynes and Castlethorpe, a key green corridor connecting communities and linking with Wolverton Station. Repeated flooding had left the path in poor condition—narrow, muddy, and often impassable. As Nigel Brigham, Sustrans Engineer, recalls:
“The path was in a dreadful state. After heavy rains, water was standing for a long time. A tough mountain biker might get through, but most people were put off using it. The local community were keen to find a solution.”
The Solution: Integrated Modular Drainage
Sustrans became aware of Civil Water Management at a Connected Places Catapult and Department conference, and it was quickly realised that the modular drainage system technology - made from resin encapsulated recycled tyre rubber—offered a promising alternative.
The system is porous, lightweight, and sustainable, allowing water to drain both quickly and naturally off the path without the need for large trench excavations, pipe and loose granular stone.
Together with Milton Keynes City Council, the team secured funding through the Department for Transport and Connected Places Catapult Rural Transport Accelerator programme for a 200-metre stretch of Route 6.
Despite complex and constrained conditions—proximity to the West Coast Main Line, and local badger habitats—the project was designed and delivered successfully utilising a first of a kind no-dig build method.
The path was widened to three metres and resurfaced using modular drainage unit edges, spurs and drainage mats to create an integrated sustainable drainage system. The surrounding verge was seeded with meadow grass, further enhancing biodiversity.
Crucially, the sustainable drainage plan unlocked by the modular drainage system solution received approval for the whole ~2.5km route, enabling a further ~1km extension of the solution to be successfully installed in June 2025 – while paving the way for the design and build of further extensions in the future.
The details for the further extension to the upgrade of Route 6 were appended above subsequent to the article’s original release to incorporate this important development.
The Outcome: No Flooding, Carbon and Cost Reductions, High Social Value Impact
Performance through winter 2024 was highly encouraging: the treated section remained entirely flood-free. Continuous site monitoring—including live camera feeds—supports this evidence.
Carbon and cost benefit analysis vs. conventional materials and methods that would traditionally have been considered to try and provide drainage, using excavated trenches, pipe and gravel, showed estimated: carbon reduction of up to 50% and cost savings of 19%.
A social value report by the Rural Design Centre projected estimated social value impact over 10 years of an estimated £453k, driven by increased active travel, improved health outcomes, and reduced flood-related disruptions - the estimated impact for the full length of the path stands at £3.16m. The opportunity to fully benefit from this exceptional embedded value has been approved in the sustainable drainage plan for the site through utilisation of CWM’s unique engineering solution.
Carl Hopkins, Managing Director of Civil Water Management, said:
“The response from the local community has been incredibly positive. Providing safer, flood-free paths that connect people to public transport makes travel greener, more accessible, and more enjoyable for everyone.”
The Path Ahead
Engineering teams see exceptionally strong potential for wider rollout across flood-prone areas of the National Cycle Network and other similar paths that link cities, towns, villages and communities that are managed by local authorities.
They are delighted to be part of a project that is establishing a new benchmark in drainage designs for pathways that is low-cost, low-maintenance, and wildlife-friendly.
Get in touch. Find out more about how Civil Water Management can help to unlock the engineering advantage for your next project.
To talk to our specialist drainage team call 0203 189 1468 or email in**@******************nt.com