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Map centred on the Barking and Dagenham policy unit boundary. This includes north of the Thames from the Barking Creek Barrier to the Beam River. It extends north up the Beam River in the east, and the River Roding in the west. The surrounding areas are shown, with the map extending 1.5 kilometres (km) in all directions. The flood risk layer shows that the areas in the south east and south west of the policy unit have a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year. Defences reduce the risk of flooding.

Description

The Barking and Dagenham Policy Unit includes the north bank of the Thames from the Barking Barrier to the River Beam. It includes the urban areas of Barking and Dagenham.

The councils responsible for this area are:

• London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
• London Borough of Havering
• London Borough of Redbridge

Many of the Thames tributaries run through this area, including the:

• River Roding
• River Beam
• Loxford Water
• Mayes Brook
• Gores Brook
• Buzzards Mouth Sewer

Local areas at risk and types of flooding

The areas at risk of flooding in this policy unit include:

• new and established residential areas
• major industrial areas, some no longer in use

The industrial areas are generally closer to the River Thames, but new riverfront housing is also at risk of flooding.

There are also important transport links in this policy unit, including the A13 and the HS1 railway line.

There are large areas of raised ground and some development is raised above flood level.

The types of flooding that could affect this policy unit include:

• tidal flooding from River Roding and the Thames downriver (east) of the Thames Barrier when the tide overtops flood defences
• fluvial and tidal flooding from the River Roding and the Beam River (West Bank) when heavy rainfall causes rivers to overflow their banks or defences
• fluvial flooding from local watercourses, including Mayes Brook, Gores Brook and Buzzard Mouth Sewer
• a combination of these

Managing flood risk in this area

To manage the risks there are tidal flood defences downriver of the Thames Barrier.

The Barking Barrier provides protection against tidal flooding from the River Roding. There are also secondary tidal and tidal/fluvial flood defences on the River Roding.

The Beam Washlands is a fluvial flood storage area on the River Beam and there is fluvial flood storage on Mayes Brook. Local fluvial flood defences provide protection, including the River Beam.

There are drainage system outfalls on the River Beam, Loxwood Water, Mayes Brook, Gores Brook, Buzzard Mouth Sewer and Oakentrough Sewer, with tidal sluices and flap valves to prevent tidal water flowing upriver. These defences need upgrading as the sea level rises and fluvial flows increase.

The River Beam and Gores Brook have pumping stations to pump fluvial water into the River Thames when required.

The Environment Agency also uses flood alerts and flood warnings to inform people about potential flooding so they can take appropriate action.

Sign up to receive flood warnings in your area.

Flood risk management policies for this area

Thames Estuary 2100 sets flood risk management policies for each area of the estuary. The policies range from P3 to P5 and outline how we should manage that areas tidal defences.

In this area a P4 policy applies.

This means we will take further action to keep up with climate and land use change so that flood risk does not increase. We will need to work with other risk management authorities to do more to manage flood risk.

Find out more about flood risk management policies.

Local requirements: who needs to do what

Tidal flood defence owners

By 2040, tidal flood defence owners in this policy unit should:

• work with the council, developers and local infrastructure providers to adapt defences and achieve multiple benefits through proposed development
• work with the Environment Agency to raise defences where required

For further information read outcome 2: improving fixed flood defences.

Local councils

There is currently no riverside strategy for this area. By 2030, councils should work with communities to plan how their riverside will look in future.

Find out more about the riverside strategy approach.

Thames Water

Thames Water will work with the Environment Agency to ensure that water quality is not damaged by discharges from Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, because of increased Thames Barrier closures.

Thames Estuary Partnership

The Thames Estuary Partnership will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to update the Thames Strategy East. This landscape vision for the river corridor will include a riverside strategy approach to tidal flood defence upgrades.