River Thames Scheme Funding Announced as part of Surrey Flood Alleviation Program

Surrey County Council’s cabinet is set to agree £270 million of funding for long term flood risk management work across Surrey to protect homes and roads.

That includes a contribution to the River Thames Scheme, which will reduce flood risk to 15,000 properties and tens of thousands of people living and working near the Thames.

Costing £640 million, the scheme represents the largest investment in flood risk in the UK to date. £404 million has already been committed including £308 million government investment and £95 million of further partnership funding.

Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, said: “The floods in 2014 were devastating for Surrey and ever since then it’s been clear we need to do all we can to make sure our residents and their properties are protected from such risks in the future.”

“That’s why it’s vital that work such as the Surrey Flood Alleviation Program gets the funding it needs. As well as developing a program of flood works across the county it will make sure that the River Thames Scheme can proceed.”

The River Thames Scheme will create three flood alleviation channels alongside the River Thames and improve capacity at three weirs. It will run from Datchet in Berkshire, through Surrey to Teddington.

Surrey County Council’s funding also includes £33 million to spend over 10 years on flood alleviation projects and other actions to minimize the impact of flooding on homes, businesses and infrastructure across the county.

These could be jointly-funded, such as the recently unveiled flood alleviation scheme in Godalming which was funded by the Environment Agency, Surrey County Council and others.

According to the release, Surrey County Council’s decision on Tuesday 29 October will be a significant step in demonstrating the River Thames Scheme’s affordability.

It will build upon the ongoing investment to date and provide the confidence needed to proceed with the next steps of the scheme’s delivery. This will include requesting approval from HM Treasury and development of applications for the statutory consents required to enable the schemes construction.