Wandsworth to Deptford Policy Unit: Thames Estuary 2100
What needs to be done to manage flood risk and adapt to rising sea levels in Wandsworth to Deptford, one of 23 policy units in Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100)
Applies to England
Map centred on the Wandsworth to Deptford policy unit boundary. This is a large unit that includes the areas of Wandsworth, Battersea, Bermondsey and parts of Deptford. Surrounding areas outside the boundary are shown, with the map extending 1.5 kilometres (km) north and south and 0.5km east and west. The flood risk layer shows that in most of this area there is a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year without the existing flood defences. This risk is reduced by defences.
Description
The Wandsworth to Deptford Policy Unit is one of the most urbanised areas of the Thames Estuary. It includes Battersea, Lambeth, Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Canada Water. The Thames Path runs continuously through much of this area, and major riverside regeneration projects are under construction.
Important sites in this area include:
- Battersea Power Station
- Lambeth Palace
- the Albert Embankment
- the National Theatre
The councils responsible for this area are:
- London Borough of Lambeth
- London Borough of Lewisham
- London Borough of Southwark
- London Borough of Wandsworth
- Royal Borough of Greenwich
Use the Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100) map to view all the policy units.
Local areas at risk and types of flooding
This is a large, flat, low-lying area. Sites at risk include:
- large residential areas including housing and care homes
- major transport terminals
- schools
- shopping and leisure centres
- industrial and commercial buildings
- emergency service buildings
- utilities
- parks and open spaces
Tower Bridge is a prominent landmark in this policy unit. We need to ensure that any future changes to flood defences consider impacts to the bridge and its access.
The types of flooding that could affect this policy unit include:
- tidal flooding from the Thames upriver (west) of the Thames Barrier – when the tide overtops flood defences
- fluvial flooding from the River Wandle – when heavy rainfall causes rivers to overflow their banks or defences
- surface water flooding – when heavy rainfall is unable to drain away
- 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 along the River Thames and the lower part of the River Wandle.
There are 11 combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to reduce flooding from urban drainage.
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 P5 policy applies to the tidal flood defences.
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 in Richmond Council will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to update the Thames Strategy - Kew to Chelsea. This landscape vision for the river corridor will include a riverside strategy approach to tidal flood defence upgrades upstream (west) of Vauxhall Bridge.
Thames Estuary Partnership
The Thames Estuary Partnership will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to:
- scope the need and potential creation of a Thames Strategy Central between Vauxhall Bridge and Tower Bridge
- update the Thames Strategy East downstream (east) of Tower Bridge
These landscape visions for the river corridor will include a riverside strategy approach to tidal flood defence upgrades.