Businesses

What the River Thames Scheme means for businesses

The River Thames Scheme (RTS) will benefit the region's businesses in a variety of ways.

The scheme will reduce the impacts of flooding, create sustainable travel routes and make the local area a greener and more attractive place to live and work. Taken together, these factors will provide a significant boost for the local economy.

Reducing flood risk

By reducing the impacts of flooding, the RTS will help to increase businesses' resilience and long-term viability. The scheme aims to do this in a number of ways, including:

• Safeguarding physical assets: (such as buildings, machinery and equipment) from flooding and water damage.
• Helping to ensure business continuity: by offering a reduced risk from flood damage, the RTS will help businesses to continue production, distribution and service delivery, allowing them to fulfil customer orders and contractual obligations even in adverse weather conditions.
• Protection of inventory and stock: floodwater can cause extensive damage to stored materials and stock. This can lead to significant financial losses.
• Mitigation of losses: floods can cause businesses to incur significant costs, including repairs, loss of revenue and increased insurance premiums.
• Securing key infrastructure: most businesses rely on infrastructure such as utilities, transport networks and telecommunications systems to operate effectively. The RTS will help to protect these, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential services and utilities during flood events.
• Maintaining supply chain resilience: many firms use extended supply chains to source their raw materials, components and finished products. The RTS will help to deliver supply chain resilience by preventing disruption to transportation networks, logistics hubs and manufacturing facilities, helping to ensure the flow of goods and services to and from businesses.

The scheme aims to reduce the risk of flood-related disruption, helping to ensure increased business continuity and uninterrupted operations (even during adverse weather events). This will contribute to safeguarding jobs and preserving livelihoods.

By helping to protect key elements of infrastructure and numerous commercial premises, the RTS aims to build confidence among business owners, investors and entrepreneurs, stimulating business growth and investment in the region.

The construction phase

The construction phase of the RTS will generate opportunities for local firms in a variety of sectors. It will also contribute to increased economic activity in the region.

Additional benefits

In addition to enhancing flood resilience, the RTS will create sustainable transport routes and areas of high-quality green space for recreation and wildlife, bringing significant advantages both to local businesses and the wider community.

These aspects of the scheme will make the area more accessible, biodiverse and contribute to making it a more attractive and sustainable place for people to live, work and enjoy their leisure time.

Flood advice for businesses

Flooding can have huge impacts on businesses, affecting owners, employees and customers alike. The effects on mental health, profitability and reputation can be wide-ranging. It is important to be prepared.

Actions you can take

• Check your risk of flooding via the official Environment Agency flood map.
• Understand the different types of flooding and how they might affect your business. Remember that flooding can come from a river, surface water, sewers, groundwater and other sources.
• Check you have the correct level of insurance.
• Prepare a flood plan.
• Invest in flood protection measures and work with neighbouring properties to improve your readiness.