Climate change and overheating
Climate change is increasing the risk of overheating. As average temperatures rise, Salford is expected to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves, with hotter summers becoming the norm.
High temperatures can affect people's health and wellbeing, particularly older people, young children and those with existing health conditions. Overheating can also impact homes, workplaces, transport networks and public services.
By acting now to adapt our buildings, green spaces and infrastructure, we can help keep our communities safe, healthy and resilient as the climate continues to change.
To find out more information about how to prepare for hot weather or heatwaves, please visit Hot weather and heatwave - Greater Manchester Combined Authority and for specific support for older adults the Talking About Heat provides more information.
Climate change and flooding
There have been major floods in Salford in the past from the River Irwell, such as in 1946 and 2015. Although flood defences have been improved, climate change means that we cannot afford to ignore the risk of flooding, either from the river or from local flooding incidents caused by heavy rainfall.
Climate change will lead to an increased risk of flooding due to:
wetter winters overall
an increase in periods of intense heavy rainfall
To find out if your home is at risk from river flooding, please visit the Environment Agency website. Our flooding advice for householders page gives more details of what to do if your home is at risk.
You can find out more about what the city council is doing to manage flood risk, on our flood risk pages. This includes a link to the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, which gives more technical details of flood risk in Salford.
Salford’s Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)
The city council is using nature-based solutions to build resilience against possible future flooding and overheating within our city. One of these solutions is the installation of SuDs within our communities. SuDS slow the flow of rainfall entering drains, reduce surface flooding and potential environmental pollution. In many cases they also benefit biodiversity, reduce surfaces overheating, and are generally nice to view.
SuDS can include green roofs and walls, street trees, naturalised green spaces, raingardens, ponds and wetlands, below ground storage and permeable surfaces.
Some of our SuDS schemes can be found on:
Dales Brow
Bloom Street
Trafford Road
Liverpool Road
Carpino Place
East Ordsall Lane
Howard Street
Bloom Street
Trinity Way
Buile Hill Mansion
Figure 1: Bloom Street
Figure 2: Carpino Place
Case Study – Dales Brow, Swinton
Dales Brow is a greenspace SuDS scheme aimed at reducing surface water flooding of the highway. Within the SuDS design, surface water is channelled beneath the pavement into shallow channels and leaky dams, filled with plants, until it flows into Deans Brook. This design diverts water from the public wastewater network and slows the water flow so that it does not overwhelm the brook. Forcing water through plants helps them thrive and absorbs some of the water, plants also filter any pollutants from entering the water course.
Figure 3: Greenspace on Dales Brow before SuDS scheme
Figure 4: SuDS leaky dam at Dales Brow
Figure 5: Planted swale at Dales Brow (photo credit: City of Trees)
Dales Brow was created through partnership with Salford City Council, the Environment Agency and City of Trees. It is a freely accessible recreational space for the community to use.