Policy paper

Godalming flood alleviation scheme

Updated 4 January 2021

Background

Godalming has a history of flooding from the River Wey, with 5 notable events in recent years in 1968, 1990, 2000, 2013 and 2020. During the 2013 flood, 84 properties in the Meadrow and Catteshall area were affected and homeowners evacuated. Residents were out of their homes for many months.

Following the 2013 flooding, the Waverley Infrastructure Resilience Group was set up. Partners included:

  • Environment Agency
  • Surrey County Council
  • Waverley Borough Council
  • Godalming Town Council
  • Thames Water
  • Godalming Flood Group
  • South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt

Works completed

The Environment Agency has completed the following work:

  • constructed a 525-metre flood wall along the north bank of Hell Ditch - this flood defence will reduce flooding for a flood equivalent to 1968 taking climate change into account
  • a flood barrier completes the defence across Catteshall Road - we will only erect this when flood water levels are high and the road needs to be closed
  • installed two pumping stations to pick up road and land run-off and discharge to the Hell Ditch
  • included wetland habitat creation and river restoration

Aerial view of the finished defence

View of the finished defence

We started construction work in October 2018 and finished in October 2019. The scheme was opened on 11 October 2019 by Chair of the Environment Agency Emma Howard Boyd, Jeremy Hunt MP and Chair of Godalming Flood Group Derek Pollard.

Photos taken in February 2020 showing the Godalming Flood Alleviation Scheme. 100 properties were protected from Storm Dennis.

Contact us

Email: thm.schemes@environment-agency.gov.uk