Shell Haven and Fobbing Marshes Policy Unit: Thames Estuary 2100
What needs to be done to manage flood risk and adapt to rising sea levels in Shell Haven and Fobbing Marshes, one of 23 policy units in Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100).
Applies to England
Map centred on the Shell Haven and Fobbing Marshes policy unit boundary. This includes Fobbing Marshes and the Coryton oil refinery site. The map shows the surrounding areas, extending 2 kilometres (km) to the east and west, and 1km to the north and south of the policy unit boundary. The flood risk layer shows that most of the 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
The Shell Haven and Fobbing Marshes Policy Unit extends in an easterly direction from the eastern half of Stanford-le-Hope to Fobbing Marshes.
The councils responsible for this area are:
- Basildon Council
- Thurrock Council
This area includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve. The marshes have historic features and buried archaeological remains, creating a complex historic environment.
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 this policy unit include:
- the marshes
- London Gateway Port
- residential areas of Stanford-le-Hope
- Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve
The types of flooding that could affect this policy unit include:
- tidal flooding from the Thames, Holehaven Creek and Vange Creek – when the tide overtops flood defences
- fluvial flooding – when heavy rainfall causes the marsh drainage systems on Fobbing and Vange Marshes to overflow their banks or defences
- surface water flooding in Stanford-le-Hope – 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 and Holehaven Creek
- the Fobbing Horse Barrier and defences on Vange Creek
- drainage system outfalls at Mucking Creek, Shell Haven, Fobbing Marshes and Vange Marshes
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 P3 policy applies.
This means we will maintain flood defences at their current level, accepting that the flood risk will increase. We need to involve communities to prepare for this flood risk..
Find out more about flood risk management policies.
Local requirements: who needs to do what
Tidal flood defence owners and infrastructure providers
Flood defence owners and infrastructure providers will plan to realign flood defences and improve resilience.
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.
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency will work with Basildon and Thurrock councils and local communities to implement resilience measures where a P3 policy applies.
Network Rail
Network Rail will work with councils and the Environment Agency to ensure transport infrastructure in Essex is resilient to increasing flood risk. This will support growth in the outer estuary.
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 reflect how increasing tidal flood risk will affect the environment.