Thousands of properties along the lower River Thames will benefit from a £300m strategy to reduce flooding unveiled by the Environment Agency.
The lower Thames flood risk-management strategy focuses on one of the most populated areas of undefended floodplain in the UK, between Datchet and Teddington Lock.
The draft strategy would reduce flood risks to 15,000 properties, of which 7,200 would have the threat of flooding reduced to a one-in-100 chance a year.
A combination of engineering measures, directing development away from flood risk areas, and better mapping of the floodplain are included in the strategy.
The measures would include three new flood-diversion channels between Datchet and Shepperton. Further downstream, where the flood plain becomes narrower, the strategy sets out how the flooding impact can be managed by community-based measures.
Innes Jones, area manager for the EA, said: ‘The reality is that we can’t stop flooding altogether, but this strategy does set out a wide range of measures for helping reduce the risk. These include increasing flood resistance, making people more conscious of their risks and raising awareness about building in the floodplain.’
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