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Today the River Thames Scheme launch Statutory Consultation

Today we launch statutory consultation on our proposals for the River Thames Scheme (RTS)

This consultation is an important milestone and significant step towards delivering the scheme, which will bring many benefits to local communities and the economy and sustainable benefits to support addressing climate change.

A green background with the RTS logo on and text that says: Statutory Consultation 22 January 2024 to 4 March 2024

What is the River Thames Scheme (RTS)?

The scheme is a partnership between the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council and local borough partners.

The stretch of river and the floodplain between Egham and Teddington offers miles of open-space opportunity, but it is currently constrained by flood risk, lack of access and poor-quality natural habitats, overcoming which requires investment.

The scheme covers part of the largest area of undefended, developed floodplain in England and communities in the area have suffered major floods in the past and detailed work on the current RTS started just over a decade ago.

With the increase of wetter and warmer weather, the risk of flooding is likely to become a more frequent occurrence.

Wherever possible the aim is for the two sections of the channel, to look as much like the natural landscape as possible and provide better access to green open spaces and deliver a more sustainable travel network with additional bridges in scope of the design, to link both sides of the river.

Once the scheme is complete, the Environment Agency will own and maintain the blue infrastructure while Surrey County Council will own and maintain the green infrastructure.

Why is Statutory Consultation so important?

Statutory Consultation is an important stage of projects such as the River Thames Scheme.

Designated a project of national significance, the scheme will include a new flood channel in two sections, passing though the boroughs of Runnymede and Spelthorne.

To support the landscape-based approach of this flood alleviation scheme the surrounding areas of green infrastructure – green space – that run along the channel will provide better connections within and across the area and encourage more sustainable travel.

Statutory Consultation gives local communities and key stakeholders the opportunity to ensure the final project design is informed and influenced by those who live, work, and use the area. This feedback will be considered alongside engineering parameters, costs, policy, and environmental factors, which stem from the scheme's goals.

The RTS statutory consultation will run for six weeks from 12.00am on 22 January 2024 to 11.59pm on Monday 4 March.

Copies of consultation material are available at information points. You can also pick up consultation brochures and feedback forms at our in-person event. For more information on the statutory consultation, view our dedicated Consultation webpage.

You can also complete our feedback form online through the RTS' CitizenSpace.

Why 'Your View Matters'

Since agreeing a design in principle for the RTS, the scheme has been engaging with local communities – residents and businesses and key stakeholders. Last year the scheme also held a non-statutory consultation which has helped inform and influence and refine the design to where we are now.

The RTS is keen to gather as much feedback as possible about these more detailed plans.

Jeanne Capey Project Director for the RTS said, 'Thanks to our dedicated team, we successfully refined our landscape and green infrastructure designs, with the invaluable support from the community. Since the non-statutory consultation in 2022, we had strengthened our ties with the community, collaborating closely with local planning authorities and leveraging councillors' influence to widen our engagement reach.'

The Environment Agency and Surrey County Council are the lead partners for this scheme.

Dave Bedlington Environment Agency lead for the River Thames Scheme said, 'In developing a scheme of this size, we must consider many different factors. This includes the environmental impact of our proposals. To do this we undertake surveys and modelling work. The results of this work go into producing a Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) which identifies any environmental effects (good and bad) and provide possible solutions.'

To help those interested in the scheme better understand the proposals and provide feedback, we're making the information available in lots of different ways:

  • We have in-person and virtual events happening from late January and throughout the month of February.
  • You can come and view documents including maps of the scheme plans, there are also pop-up banner display, a walk-through of the detail of the design of the scheme to date.
  • In addition to our events, you can pick up consultation brochures at various pick-up points.
  • Our pick-up points also will have on display the non-technical summaries of the PEIR, flood modelling report, other environmental documents and map books. All available for inspection free of charge.

For details and opening times of all collection points AND statutory consultation event locations, times and dates, see our Consultation events webpage.

All feedback is important to the scheme and will help us determine our final proposals which we will submit in our DCO application. The best way for you to tell us what you think is by providing your response, in writing, in one of the following ways:

  • Completing the online feedback form located, details can be found on the share your feedback page.
  • Attending an in-person consultation event where you can meet the project team and complete a paper copy of the feedback form or complete form on line.
  • Attending a virtual event to hear a presentation on the scheme and discuss questions and queries with scheme representatives and then completing the feedback from online.
  • Picking up a Consultation brochure at one of the pick-up points, where you can also view non-technical summaries of the PEIR, flood modelling report, other environmental documents and map books which are on display.

What happens next?

This scheme is classified as a project of national significance. Because of its national significance, the scheme needs a Development Consent Order (DCO).

Once the consultation has closed at 11.59pm on 4 March 2024, we will review all the suggestions and comments received during the consultation period.

We will take time to analyse feedback as we make further refinements to our proposed design and develop any mitigation measures. We will set out a summary of the responses that you have given us in a consultation report, with details regarding how your feedback has helped to shape our proposals.

This report will form part of our DCO application and will be available to the public following submission of the application, which we expect to be mid 2025. If our application for a DCO is accepted by the Planning Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, an Examining Authority will consider the application, and any representations.

If our application is approved, work on the scheme is expected to start in late 2026.