Canvey Island Policy Unit: Thames Estuary 2100
What needs to be done to manage flood risk and adapt to rising sea levels in Canvey Island, one of 23 policy units in Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100).
Applies to England
Map centred on the Canvey Island policy unit. The map extends 2 kilometres (km) north, east and west and 1km south to show the areas outside the policy unit boundary. The flood risk layer shows that all of the Canvey Island policy unit has a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year without the existing flood defences. The risk is reduced by defences.
Description
Canvey Island consists of low-lying former marshland surrounded by high defences. About 60% of the island is developed, with a large residential area and caravan parks. The north-western part of the island is undeveloped and consists of coastal grazing marsh with historic features and buried archaeological remains.
The local council responsible for this area is Castle Point Borough Council.
Use the Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100) map to view all the policy units.
Local areas at risk and types of flooding
The areas at risk of flooding are mostly residential.
The types of flooding that could affect this policy unit include:
- tidal flooding from the Thames including Benfleet, Holehaven and East Haven Creeks – when the tide overtops flood defences
- surface water flooding – when heavy rainfall is unable to drain away
- a combination of these
Managing flood risk in this area
To manage these risks, there are:
- tidal defences on the Thames frontage, Benfleet and Holehaven Creeks
- barriers at East Haven and Benfleet to control tidal water levels on East Haven Creek
- secondary tidal defences
- an extensive drainage system for the developed area with open channels integrated with the public surface water sewer network as well as pumped and gravity outfalls
The Environment Agency also uses flood alerts and flood warnings to inform people about potential flooding so they can take appropriate action.
Sign up to receive flood warnings in your area.
Flood risk management policies for this area
Thames Estuary 2100 sets flood risk management policies for each area of the estuary. The policies range from P3 to P5 and outline how we should manage that area’s tidal defences.
In this area a P4 policy applies.
This means we will take further action to keep up with climate and land use change so that flood risk does not increase. We will need to work with other risk management authorities to do more to manage flood risk.
Find out more about flood risk management policies.
Local requirements: who needs to do what
Tidal flood defence owners
By 2040, tidal flood defence owners in this policy unit should:
- work with the council, developers and local infrastructure providers to adapt defences and achieve multiple benefits through proposed development
- work with the Environment Agency to raise defences where required
For further information read outcome 2: improving fixed flood defences.
Local councils
The Association of South Essex Local Authorities includes:
- Basildon
- Brentwood
- Castle Point
- Essex County
- Rochford
- Southend-on-Sea
- Thurrock
The Association will work with the Environment Agency to manage the risk of flood and create multiple benefits. This should be part of South Essex proposals, from strategic plans to landscape-scale environment schemes. It should also be in line with the riverside strategy approach.
There is currently no riverside strategy for this area. By 2030, councils should work with communities to plan how their riverside will look in future.
Find out more about the riverside strategy approach.
Thames Estuary Partnership
The Thames Estuary Partnership will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to scope the need and potential extension of the Thames Strategy East or creation of an alternative Joint Thames Strategy to cover this policy unit.
Any agreed landscape vision for the river corridor will include a riverside strategy approach to tidal flood defence upgrades.