Layout Changes Taking Place on Hammersmith Grove
Rain gardens aim to make area more flood resilient
Work is currently taking place at the northern end of Hammersmith Grove. Picture: H&F Council
September 7, 2026
Major flood-prevention works are now underway along Hammersmith Grove, where two newly built rain gardens are set to become the first visible signs of a wider transformation designed to make the street more resilient to heavy rainfall.
The north side of the road is expected to fully reopen by Thursday 10 September, following the installation of the first pair of rain gardens at the northern end– landscaped basins that capture and absorb rainwater before it can overwhelm drains or threaten nearby homes and shops. The gardens form part of Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s long-term strategy to reduce flood risk while improving the look and feel of the neighbourhood.
Alongside the new gardens, council teams have begun replacing worn pavements with smoother, safer surfaces and upgrading pedestrian crossings to make it easier and more accessible to move around Hammersmith Grove. Permeable paving is also being laid in parking bays, allowing rainfall to seep directly into the ground rather than running off into the road.
The second phase of the project begins on Monday 21 September, shifting work to the southern side of Hammersmith Grove. This stage will introduce additional anti-flood gardens and further improvements to pavements and crossings. The final phase will focus on the central shopping parade, where the council says it will enhance the public realm for residents, businesses and visitors.
Councillor Nicole Trehy, H&F’s Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency and Travel, said the works are part of a broader effort to future-proof the neighbourhood. “We are working to make Hammersmith safer and greener. We're tackling flood risk head-on while creating safer crossings and a greener environment for everyone,” she said. “I want to thank everyone living and working in Hammersmith Grove for their patience during the works, and I'm looking forward to seeing residents getting hands-on with the planting.”
A visualisation from the council of how the junction might look when the work is complete
The council recently closed the road to allow contractors to rebuild the raised table at the northern junction with Goldhawk Road – the last major piece of construction for this phase. Once the road reopens, residents will be invited to take part in planting sessions from October, helping to shape the final look of the rain gardens.
The planting designs are being developed in partnership with the Hammersmith Grove Residents’ Association, with contractors supplying plants and coordinating the community planting days.
Work in progress on the Hammersmith Grove rain garden. Picture: H&F Council
Residents with questions about the works can contact the council’s capital projects team at Capital.Projects@lbhf.gov.uk.
Value Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We’ve always done that and won’t be changing, in fact we’d like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we’d be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least two articles a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you’d like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |