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The River Thames Scheme
We're unlocking the economic, health and environmental benefits of the River Thames.
Our statutory consultation is now closed.
The River Thames Scheme statutory consultation took place between 22 January 2024 and 4 March 2024.
Thank you to all of you who attended a consultation event and also to the hundreds of you who took the time to provide feedback. We are now carefully analysing all the feedback received and will update this website in due course.
The River Thames Scheme (RTS) will reduce the risk of flooding to thousands of homes, businesses and vital infrastructure while unlocking the economic, health and environmental benefits of the river between Egham and Teddington and responding to the challenges of climate change and nature recovery.
The scheme represents a new landscape-based approach to creating healthier, more resilient, and more sustainable communities. The scheme will create new areas of green and blue open space with recreational facilities and a nature recovery network and provide sustainable travel connections to link communities together.
The new flood channel
The River Thames Scheme will consist of:
- A new river channel built in two sections - through Runnymede (between Egham Hythe and Chertsey) and through Spelthorne (between the River Thames at Laleham before meeting Littleton North Lake and upstream of Desborough Cut).
- Capacity increases downstream of the Desborough Cut and the weirs at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington.
- Improving access to quality green, open space and connections with wildlife, in addition to supporting a more sustainable travel network.
- Creating a network of high-quality habitats to achieve biodiversity gain.
Map overview of the scheme
View full-size image (PDF)
Our vision
The River Thames Scheme will reduce flood risk to people living and working near the Thames, enhance the resilience of nationally important infrastructure, contribute to a vibrant local economy and maximise the social and environmental value of the river"
Our goals
A landscape based approach to creating a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient community. We will:
- Reduce the risk of flooding for dwellings, businesses and infrastructure.
- Improve access to quality green open spaces, connection with wildlife and more sustainable travel network.
- Create a network of high quality habitat and achieve biodiversity gain.
- Facilitate sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
- Enable delivery and design that contribute to Environment Agency, Surrey County Council and Partner climate goals relating to carbon use.
Video: Overview of the scheme
Find out what we're doing to reduce the risk of flooding along the River Thames in Surrey and London..
Statutory consultation
The River Thames Scheme statutory consultation closed at 11.59pm on Monday 4 March 2024. All the consultation information and documentation remains on this website for your reference, but we are unable to accept any new consultation responses.
View all the statutory consultation information
Benefits of the scheme
