London launches a cross-sector strategy for surface water flood management

The Flood Ready London partnership has taken a multi-sector approach to addressing the risk of surface water flooding to the capital’s communities, environment and economy.

The London Surface Water Strategy, launched last week, set out actions and recommendations that the Flood Ready London partners – the Environment Agency, London Councils, London Fire Brigade, Mayor of London, Thames Water and Transport for London with support from Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee – will progress. The premise is to align efforts and rally stakeholders around common goals – with the focus on increasing resilience and adaptation, including minimising the impact of flooding when it does occur, and making recovery quicker.

The strategy is underpinned by six guiding principles: 

• Prioritise the most vulnerable.

• Prioritise nature-based solutions.

• Develop evidence-based actions informed by hydrology.

• Work in more effective partnerships.

• Enable change through strong leadership.

• Manage surface water flood risk at the right scales. 

There are three overarching ambitions:

• Resilient places – London’s ‘places’ – homes, workplaces and environments – are better prepared to manage surface water.

• Empowered people – London’s residents, communities and businesses actively contribute to increasing surface water flood resilience.

• Coordinated delivery – All stakeholders involved in managing surface water flooding will work together to ensure coordinated planning and delivery.

  
  

The strategy features a Year One Action Plan, summarising actions which have already begun and those that will be taken over the coming year. Notably, two Surface Water Catchment Partnerships, Central London and the Lee Valley, are already being set up and £1.5m has been committed for Sustainable Drainage Systems, with £500,000 each announced from the Mayor of London, Transport for London and Thames Water.

• More than 20 organisations have joined forces to protect Scotland’s critical infrastructure from weather and climate-related impacts. The ‘Climate Ready Infrastructure Scotland Forum’ was co-founded by Network Rail, Scottish Water and SP Energy Networks. Earlier this month, the group signed a historic memorandum of understanding, agreeing to work more closely together to build resilience against the growing impacts of climate change on Scotland’s infrastructure.