London Surface Water Strategy
The London Surface Water Strategy is an ambitious vision of how London can address the real and growing risk of surface water flooding to our communities, the environment and the economy.
It builds on the work done to date in the context of the city’s unique challenges – and its unique opportunities. It sets out a series of actions and recommendations that the Flood Ready London partnership will progress to deliver transformational change for the benefit of current and future generations.
The Flood Ready London partnership, formed of 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, developed the Strategy through a series of consultations with London Boroughs, environment and development managers, community groups, the public and many others associated with surface water management.
Contact Flood Ready London: [email protected]
The London Surface Water Strategy
The London Surface Water Strategy Vision is of a London that has increased resilience to surface water flooding through collective action that benefits people, places and the environment.
The Strategy sets out the Flood Ready London collective approach to delivering this Vision by aligning our efforts and bringing together stakeholders around common goals. Following the 2021 flooding, we agreed that our focus must be on increasing resilience and adaptation, reducing flood risk to minimise its impact when it does occur, and making recovery quicker and easier. The Strategy will mobilise the step change our city needs to become more prepared, sustainable, and safe, especially for the most vulnerable. It defines how we can work together across London to plan and deliver solutions that reduce surface water flood risk, while empowering positive action by, and creating benefits for, everyone who lives in, works in, and visits our city.
Guiding principles
Underpinning the Strategy are six guiding principles:
To better understand where the impacts of flooding on the health, wellbeing and mobility of London’s most vulnerable residents are likely to be greatest, so we can find effective solutions.
To effectively absorb and slow rainfall runoff, whilst creating healthier, more resilient urban environments.
To align organisations with the way water moves, providing a framework for collaborative partnerships and facilitating the sharing of resources.
To leverage our collective expertise, resources, and capabilities so we can deliver solutions that meet the needs of London.
To ensure that the conditions are in place to drive the changes we need to better protect our city.
To allow for better resource management, prioritisation of funds and targeted actions based on where they are needed most.
Ambitions
There are three ambitions to focus efforts to achieve the vision with associated Step Change Actions which need to be taken to achieve the ambition:
Ambition 1: Resilient Places - London’s ‘places’ our homes, workplaces, and the environments in which we live - are better prepared to manage surface water.
Ambition 2: Empowered People - London’s residents and communities and businesses actively contribute to increasing surface water flood resilience.
Ambition 3: Coordinated Delivery - All stakeholders involved in managing surface water flooding will work together to ensure coordinated planning and delivery.
Year One Action Plan
'The Year One Action Plan summarises 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. £1.5 million has also been committed for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) with £500,000 each announced from the Mayor of London, Transport for London and Thames Water.
Appendices
These appendices contain the technical data which the Strategy has been built on. For technical questions please contact: [email protected]
Data
The data that forms part of the evidence base used to form the strategy can be downloaded from the London Datastore.
Background
The development of the London Surface Water Strategy has been led by the Surface Water Strategic Group formed in July 2022, in response to the storms of July 2021 which caused widespread flooding across London. An Interim Report was published in July 2024.
The impacts of severe weather such as flooding and extreme heat are becoming more frequent, with recent reports, including the London Climate Resilience Review, warning that London is underprepared for the impacts of climate change. Alongside this, the Environment Agency’s latest National Flood Risk Assessment data highlights that almost 320,000 properties in London are at high risk of surface water flooding.
The city has a growing, changing population, predicted to reach 9.6 million by 2035. It also has a highly urbanised landscape with complicated infrastructure networks. Policy and governance is complex and fragmented, with funding, investment and skills in short supply.
The Flood Ready Partnership
The Group was created to drive forward the delivery of London’s first Surface Water Strategy and is ambitious in bringing together authorities responsible for flooding to improve how the long terms challenge of flash flooding is addressed. Members include:
- London Boroughs – maximum of six representatives drawn from Chair and vice chairs of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee and/or Thames RFCC Strategic Partnership Leads
- Mayor of London – Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy
- Environment Agency – London Area Director
- Transport for London – Chief Health, Safety and Environment Officer
- Thames Water – Strategic Resource and London Operations Director
- London Fire Brigade – Assistant Commissioner
- Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee – Independent Member
The group first met on 8 December 2022 and has since met quarterly. The minutes can be read below.
Meeting minutes
- January 2025
- October 2024
- July 2024
- February 2024
- December 2023
- October 2023
- June 2023
- April 2023
- December 2022
Annual Monitoring Reports were published in 2023 and 2024. They capture the actions recommended by the various reviews for the Group to consider and for others to action, and highlight the progress against these actions.
Related content
An overview of surface water issues in London, and how sustainable drainage can help tackle it.
Sector-specific SuDS guidance designed for those responsible for the quality and upkeep of premises and their estate.
Flash flooding can happen anywhere. This information will help you prepare for flash floods.
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