GovWire

Map centred on the Greenwich policy unit boundary, which is highlighted. This includes the area along the south bank of the River Thames from Deptford in the west to the Woolwich Ferry Terminal in the east. The map shows the surrounding areas, extending 2.5 kilometres (km) north, 1km south, 2km east and 3km west. The flood risk layer shows there is a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year in much of the policy unit, but the risk is reduced by defences.

Description

The Greenwich Policy Unit starts between Deptford and Greenwich and ends at the Woolwich Ferry Terminal. It includes the south bank of the Thames and the Greenwich Peninsula. The Thames Barrier, including its south bank operational area, is in this policy unit.

The councils responsible for this area are:

• London Borough of Lewisham
• Royal Borough of Greenwich

Local areas at risk and types of flooding

Greenwich Policy Unit is a mixture of residential, urban and industrial areas.

The areas at risk of flooding include:

• schools, universities and colleges
• a fire station
• the Millennium village
• the O2 Arena
• North Greenwich underground station and bus station
• the Cutty Sark
• parts of Maritime Greenwich, a World Heritage Site

There is further development planned on the Greenwich peninsula, with a vision for new homes, jobs and areas of public open space. There will be new infrastructure and public transport links in the waterfront area.

There is potential for regeneration around Charlton Riverside including new housing and facilities. There may be potential for improvements to the Thames Path in the Greenwich area.

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

• tidal flooding from the Thames both upriver (west) and downriver (east) of the Thames Barrier when the tide overtops flood defences
• fluvial and tidal flooding from the Ravensbourne River
• surface water flooding from urban drainage sources, particularly where the capacity of the urban drainage system is low
• a combination of these

Managing flood risk in this area

The Environment Agency uses the Thames Barrier to manage surge tide water levels. When the barrier is closed against high tides, there is a difference of up to 2 metres (m) either side of the barrier. To accommodate this difference in water levels, the flood defences downstream of the Thames Barrier are up to 2m higher than those upstream.

Flood defences along the riverside, upstream (west) of the Thames Barrier, manage daily tide water levels. There are tidal flood defences downriver (east) of the Thames Barrier and fluvial flood defences on the Ravensbourne River.

There are 3 combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to reduce flooding from urban drainage.

We also use 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 P5 policy applies to the tidal flood defences.

This means the Environment Agency and our partners need to take further action to reduce the risk of flooding, including upgrading the defences to cope with future sea level rise.

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 downstream (east) of the Thames Barrier 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

By 2050, tidal flood defence owners upstream (west) of the Thames Barrier 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 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.