River Thames Scheme Update

The Environment Agency held 9 public drop-in events on the River Thames Scheme throughout August and September 2015.

The River Thames Scheme is a proposed program of projects and investment to reduce flood risk in communities near Heathrow, including: Datchet, Wraysbury, Egham, Staines, Chertsey, Shepperton, Weybridge, Sunbury, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Kingston and Teddington.

The River Thames between Datchet and Teddington has the largest area of developed floodplain in England without flood defenses.

Over 15,000 homes and businesses within the area are at risk from flooding.

As part of their ongoing community and stakeholder engagement activities, the Agency is setting up 2 discussion groups to work with local people and organisations on the design of the new flood channel, what it looks like and how it will be used.

The 2 groups are:

  • Berkshire Discussion Group who will focus on the Datchet to Hythe End channel;
  • Surrey Discussion Group who will focus on the flood channel from Egham Hythe to Chertsey, and the Shepperton flood channel.

The purpose of the groups is to share knowledge, suggest ideas and explore options.

The scheme consists of a new flood channel, improvements to 3 of the existing Thames weirs, installation of property level products for up to 1,200 homes (to make them more resistant to floods) and improved flood incident response plans. The flood channel will be between 30 and 60 meters wide and 17 kilometers long, built in 3 sections.

More info