Policy paper

Guildford flood alleviation scheme

Updated 20 March 2024

Introduction

The Environment Agency, Guildford Borough Council, and Surrey County Council are working together to find a sustainable flood risk management scheme for Guildford town centre.

The scheme will:  

• reduce flood risk to the town centre
• benefit residents
• keep the city open for business in times of flood
• help maintain Guildford’s thriving economy
• improve the natural environment
• build better connections between Guildford town centre and the River Wey

Guildford has a long history of flooding from the River Wey. Significant floods have caused damage to homes and businesses. They have also disrupted vital infrastructure such as roads and utilities.

The risk of flooding in Guildford will get worse with climate change. It is only a matter of time before we see another serious flood.

We want to develop a sustainable long-term flood risk management scheme that will:

• reduce flood risk
• help Guildford’s communities to adapt to climate change

Working in partnership with Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council

Guildford Borough Council are developing plans to regenerate Guildford town centre.

These plans will:  

• enhance the riverside environment and improve accessibility
• make Guildford a more attractive place to live, work and visit

This work has been shaped by extensive community stakeholder engagement.

You can see shaping Guildford’s future for further details.

The proposed flood alleviation scheme will support Guildford Borough Council in their aspirations to meet the current and future needs of the community.

We have also been working with Surrey County Council to make sure the scheme helps to meet:

• the objectives of the Surrey County Council local flood risk management strategy
• wider Surrey County Council objectives

Progress to date

In 2018, we held public drop-in sessions at Guildford Borough Council’s Millmead offices where we shared our early scheme proposals. These proposals included an option to reduce flood risk by putting flood walls and embankments within the north end of the town centre.

Following feedback, the Environment Agency have:

• examined other options to manage flood risk
• looked at how these options might better protect Guildford town centre
• worked hard to find an approach that does not transfer flood risk elsewhere and meets Guildford Borough Council’s aspirations

Working with with Guildford Borough Council, we have expanded the scope of our assessment to make sure flood risk is reduced to as much of the town centre as possible.

You can view latest proposals on the Guildford Borough Council Town Centre website. They are included in the Guildford Borough Council Town Centre masterplan stage 2 report.

Get involved

We want to understand and consider your views as the scheme progresses.

We would like to:

• gather your local knowledge and experience
• understand your priorities so we create a scheme that everyone can value and benefit from

We are holding a public information event on Thursday 18 April 2024, from 2.00pm to 7.00pm.

The venue is:

The Circle Bar
Yvonne Arnaud Theatre
Millbrook
Guildford
GU1 3UX

This is a drop-in event and all are welcome. You can:

• meet members of the project team
• find out more about the scheme
• share your views and experience
• ask questions

You can use our Citizen Space project page to:

• to view the event material
• provide feedback on the event

The online feedback form is open until Friday 17 May 2024.

You can get a hard copy feedback form by emailing guildfordfloodscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk

Next steps

During 2024, we will work with a range of partners including:

• landowners
• businesses
• communities

This will help us to better understand local requirements and, where possible, build them into the scheme.

We will make sure any proposals will work to manage the flood risk while not increasing flood risk elsewhere.

As we develop the scheme further, we will carry out activities that will improve our understanding of the area and its natural environment. These activities include:

• ground investigation
• topographic surveys
• environmental surveys

At the same time, we will look out for opportunities to enhance the natural environment.

The scheme will bring additional environmental benefits to the area.  We are considering whether fish passes should be included at Unstead and St Catherine’s weirs, upstream of Guildford. This will improve fish passage along the River Wey.

We will look at how to sustainably manage surface water flood risk by working with:  

• Guildford Borough Council
• Surrey County Council, the lead local flood authority
• Thames Water

When we collect this information and consider your feedback, we will combine the findings to develop an option that balances the needs of the community.

Timescales and funding

We are moving into the next stage of the project, where we will carry out further:

• detailed assessments
• surveys
• engagement

We expect this stage to last at least 2 to 3 years.

Guildford Borough Council and Surrey County Council have already contributed financially to help develop the scheme. The scheme can only be built once funding has been secured. This is likely to use a combination of funding from:

• central government (Grant in Aid)
• Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee
• local councils
• others that benefit from the scheme

We will be able to establish scheme costs when we have developed a plan for the scheme.

Temporary flood barriers

We have temporary flood barriers available. We have identified an area around Mary Road and William Road in Guildford where we might be able to use the barriers in the right circumstances. We used temporary flood barriers in December 2019 and February 2020 when flows in the River Wey were high. This helped to reduce flood risk to properties in the area.

Contact

Email Guildfordfloodscheme@environment-agency.gov.uk if you want further information or to provide feedback.

You can find more information about the scheme and provide feedback following the public information event on our Citizen Space project page.