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Public feedback shapes design for the River Thames Scheme

The River Thames Scheme (RTS), being delivered by Surrey County Council (SCC) and the Environment Agency (EA), carried out statutory consultation from 22 January to 4 March 2024.

Since the non-statutory consultation in 2022, the scheme has significantly advanced, shaped by feedback and ongoing engagement with local communities and other key stakeholders.

The statutory consultation earlier this year provided a further opportunity for these groups to see the latest design proposals and provide their feedback before the application for development consent is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate ('PINS') in 2025.

In the interim we are now able to share a Statutory Consultation Summary Report (PDF) which presents the feedback received from statutory consultation.

Statutory consultation was deemed a great success overall. We engaged with over 2,700 people across our in-person and virtual events and received 2,500 feedback submissions. We also saw over 17,000 visits to the consultation pages on our website.

A group of 4 people in conversation at a table looking at the River Thames Scheme banners and consultation material.

Key information that was presented at consultation included:

  • Channel design, downstream improvement measures, and impact on flood risk
  • Preliminary assessment of the environmental effects of the scheme
  • Landscape and green infrastructure design, including the active travel route and habitat creation areas
  • Construction principles, including the approach to managing materials and waste during construction

The consultation materials included a feedback form that respondents could complete either online or in paper form to provide feedback on the information provided at statutory consultation.

The feedback form asked multiple closed and open questions. As well as using the feedback form, respondents could also submit feedback using free text emails or letters, and many did so.

All feedback gathered at statutory consultation, is being used to contribute to a comprehensive consultation report which will summarise the findings. This report will also include information on how we have considered feedback and how this has informed any changes to our proposals or refinements on the scheme.

This report will be submitted as part of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs via the Planning Inspectorate ('PINS') and will be available to the public following submission of the application in 2025.

Many of the consultation responses received were detailed and insightful, providing some fresh perspectives on the various elements of the scheme design, including the flood mitigation measures, the active travel route, and newly proposed habitats.

The process of statutory consultation revealed significant support for the proposals presented for the scheme overall.

This included:

  • 61% believed that the scheme design presented met the scheme's goals.
  • 64% agreed or strongly agreed that the scheme would help to reduce flooding in the scheme area.
  • Over 70% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the inclusion of an active travel route as part of the scheme.
  • 67% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the inclusion of bridges as part of the active travel route.
  • Nearly 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the aim to create habitat creation as part of the RTS.

Speaking about the report, Project Director Eddie Rrokaj said: 'The Statutory Consultation process has been invaluable in helping shape the direction of the River Thames Scheme. We greatly appreciate the thoughtful, detailed and insightful feedback from the community and key stakeholders, which has helped us refine the project to better serve the people and environment of the scheme area.'

Eddie went on to say, 'Moving forward, all feedback gathered at statutory consultation, will be used to contribute to a comprehensive consultation report which will summarise the findings. This report will also include information on how we have considered feedback and how this has informed any changes to our proposals or refinements on the scheme. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the consultation process, all feedback is helping to shape a safer and greener future for the River Thames communities.'

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Download the statutory consultation summary report (PDF)