GovWire

Map centred on the Shell Haven and Fobbing Marshes policy unit boundary. This includes Fobbing Marshes and the Coryton oil refinery site. The map shows the surrounding areas, extending 2 kilometres (km) to the east and west, and 1km to the north and south of the policy unit boundary. The flood risk layer shows that most of the policy unit has a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year without the existing flood defences. The risk is reduced by defences.

Description

The Shell Haven and Fobbing Marshes Policy Unit extends in an easterly direction from the eastern half of Stanford-le-Hope to Fobbing Marshes.

The councils responsible for this area are:

• Basildon Council
• Thurrock Council

This area includes a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve. The marshes have historic features and buried archaeological remains, creating a complex historic environment.

Local areas at risk and types of flooding

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

• the marshes
• London Gateway Port
• residential areas of Stanford-le-Hope
• Fobbing Marsh Nature Reserve

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

• tidal flooding from the Thames, Holehaven Creek and Vange Creek when the tide overtops flood defences
• fluvial flooding when heavy rainfall causes the marsh drainage systems on Fobbing and Vange Marshes to overflow their banks or defences
• surface water flooding in Stanford-le-Hope when heavy rainfall is unable to drain away
• a combination of these

Managing flood risk in this area

To manage these risks there are:

• tidal defences on the Thames and Holehaven Creek
• the Fobbing Horse Barrier and defences on Vange Creek
• drainage system outfalls at Mucking Creek, Shell Haven, Fobbing Marshes and Vange Marshes

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 P3 policy applies.

This means we will maintain flood defences at their current level, accepting that the flood risk will increase, with localised exceptions to protect major infrastructure. We need to involve communities to prepare for this flood risk.

Find out more about flood risk management policies.

Local requirements: who needs to do what

Tidal flood defence owners and infrastructure providers

Flood defence owners and infrastructure providers will plan to realign flood defences and improve resilience.

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

Local councils

The Association of South Essex Local Authorities includes:

• Basildon
• Brentwood
• Castle Point
• Essex County
• Rochford
• Southend-on-Sea
• Thurrock

The Association will work with the Environment Agency to manage the risk of flood and create multiple benefits. This should be part of South Essex proposals, from strategic plans to landscape-scale environment schemes. It should also be in line with the riverside strategy approach.

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.

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency will work with Basildon and Thurrock councils and local communities to implement resilience measures where a P3 policy applies.

Network Rail

Network Rail will work with councils and the Environment Agency to ensure transport infrastructure in Essex is resilient to increasing flood risk. This will support growth in the outer estuary.

Thames Estuary Partnership

The Thames Estuary Partnership will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to scope the need and potential extension of the Thames Strategy East or creation of an alternative Joint Thames Strategy to cover this Policy Unit.

Any agreed landscape vision for the river corridor will reflect how increasing tidal flood risk will affect the environment.