Barnes and Kew Policy Unit: Thames Estuary 2100
What needs to be done to manage flood risk and adapt to rising sea levels in Barnes and Kew, one of 23 policy units in Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100).
Applies to England
Map centred on the Barnes and Kew policy unit. This includes the south bank of the River Thames from Kew Gardens to Putney Bridge, and also extends approximately 3 kilometres (km) south to include part of Beverley Brook. The map extends approximately 2km to the east and west, and 1km to the north and south, outside the policy unit boundary. The flood risk layer shows that, in much of the policy unit, there is a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year without the existing flood defences. The risk is reduced by defences. Beverley Brook is at risk but this is not reduced by defences.
Description
The Barnes and Kew Policy Unit starts at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and ends at Putney Bridge.
The local councils responsible for this area are:
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- London Borough of Wandsworth
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 in Barnes and Kew include:
- residential areas
- schools
- offices
- electricity substations
- care homes
- a fire station
- large open areas and playing fields
- Kew Gardens
- London Wetland Centre
The Local Plan in this area identifies sites and requirements for future development. There are ongoing discussions for the redevelopment of Kew Retail Park into a mixed-use development and a major riverside project at Stag Brewery, both of which are in the flood risk area.
The types of flooding that could affect this policy unit include:
- tidal flooding – when the tide overtops flood defences
- fluvial flooding from the Thames and Beverley Brook – when heavy rainfall causes rivers to overflow their banks or defences
- groundwater flooding – when underground water stores (aquifers) overflow
- a combination of these
Managing flood risk in this area
The area is protected by the Thames Barrier and other tidal defences that support it.
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) are used to reduce flooding from urban drainage.
The Beverley Brook flapped outfall and bypass culverts help with fluvial flooding.
The Environment Agency 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 P5 policy applies.
This means the Environment Agency and our partners need to take further action to reduce the risk of flooding, including upgrading the defences to cope with future sea level rise.
Find out more about flood risk management policies.
Local requirements: who needs to do what
Tidal flood defence owners
By 2050, 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
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 Landscape Strategy team
The Thames Landscape Strategy Team based at Richmond Council will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to:
- update the Thames Landscape Strategy upstream of Kew Bridge
- update the Thames Strategy - Kew to Chelsea downstream of Kew Bridge
These landscape visions for the river corridor will include a riverside strategy approach to upgrading tidal flood defences.