Consultation

Statutory Consultation

What is Statutory Consultation?

Every component of the River Thames Scheme (RTS) is a significant addition to existing blue and green infrastructure, working in tandem to provide communal benefits. New routes for pedestrians and cyclists will run along the channel and through the new public spaces, linking different elements of the scheme with communities and providing better connections within and across the area.

Areas of new and improved habitat for wildlife and nature recovery will connect with existing nature sites and wildlife corridors to provide a new nature recovery network along the length of the channel that supports even more biodiversity.

We have used the feedback from our earlier consultations to help us develop the design of the River Thames Scheme, and in early 2024, we will launch our six-week statutory consultation activity.

Statutory consultation gives you the opportunity to have your say on our proposals. We are keen to consult with communities, land interests and stakeholders affected by, or with an interest in, our plans for the RTS.

Why is Statutory Consultation important?

A Development Consent Order (DCO) give us permission to build and operate the scheme. Unlike other processes, it means we would only apply to one authority for almost all the different types of consent we need, including appropriate land powers. This ensures that most scheme elements are examined, considered and granted in one go, making the process simpler and more efficient.

To successfully develop the scheme for our DCO application, we must engage and consult with lots of different people and organisations including the public, residents and landowners, local councils, and regulatory bodies. This feedback in key in the overall scheme development and progression.

How can I get involved?

We have recently published statutory notices. The Section 47 Notice (PDF) and the Section 48 Notice (PDF) of the Planning Act 2008 are published in local and national newspapers and journals to highlight the imminent launch of Statutory Consultation for the River Thames Scheme (RTS).

This is following the scheme's liaison with local authorities having sought their (local authorities) views via a Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) (6MB, PDF).

This notice is a legal requirement and it shares information on the in-person and virtual events that will be taking place over the six-week Statutory Consultation period from 12.01am on Monday 22 January to 11.59pm on Monday 4 March.

• We have in-person and virtual events happening from late January and throughout the month of February.
• At our in-person events, you can come and view documents including maps of the scheme plans, there are also pop-up banner displays, a walk-through of the detail of the design of the scheme to date.
• At our in-person and virtual events you can speak to and ask questions to specialists who work on the scheme.
• In addition to our events, you can pick up consultation brochures at various pick-up points.
• Our pick-up points also will have on display the non-technical summaries of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), flood modelling report, other environmental documents, and map books available for inspection free of charge.
• You will also be able to view documentation and fill in our online feedback form.

What happens to my feedback following Statutory Consultation?

Once the consultation has closed, we will review feedback received during the consultation. This feedback will be used to produce a consultation report which will summarise the findings. This consultation report will also include information on how we have considered feedback and how this has informed any changes to our proposals or refinements of the scheme.

The report will be submitted as part of our Development Consent Order application to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs via the Planning Inspectorate ('PINS') and will be available to the public following submission of the application.