The Environment Agency is seeking views on protecting London and the Essex and Kent coasts that border the River Thames to shape the response to increased flood threat as climate change threatens to create higher sea levels.

The Environment Agency (EA) and a number of other bodies are looking towards the end of the century to ensure homes, businesses and critical services from Teddington to Sheerness and Southend remain protected by updating the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. Londoners and people in north Kent and south Essex are being invited to shape the response.

Image: Dartford Creek Barrier's steel gates lower when flooding is likely

The EA is calling on communities and organisations to play their part in updating the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan by giving their views on the new flood risk strategy. More than 3,000 flood defences - including the iconic Thames Barrier currently protect 1.42 million people from flooding in the London area.

The Agency is updating the plan to increase resilience and still manage flood risk in the most cost-effective way. 

“Significant sea-level rise is now inevitable"

Baroness Brown DBE FREng FRS, chair of the Climate Change Committee’s adaptation committee and chair of the advisory group that reviewed the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan, said:

“Significant sea-level rise is now inevitable, and even reaching global net zero – imperative to limit future warming – will not stop this rising tide.”

“The plan aims to protect communities from flooding while reshaping riversides and enhancing nature.”

Only 12 per cent of more than 3,000 flood defences are the responsibility of the Environment Agency, so it is essential that the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan is a team effort, owned by everyone with an interest in our river.

Image: Thames Barrier

Julie Foley, the Environment Agency’s director for flood strategy and national adaptation, said:

“We’ve operated the Thames Barrier to protect London more than 200 times in the past 40 years.

“But the climate is changing and causing sea levels to rise. Our evidence shows that could be by more than a metre by 2100.

“While we expect the Thames Barrier to continue to protect London until 2070, we need to plan ahead now to keep London protected from storm surges. By 2040 we will make a decision on the preferred option for 2070 and beyond.”

The Environment Agency is today holding the first of three more public events for people to see the updated plans and discuss them with specialists from the Environment Agency and other organisations involved in protecting London, south Essex and north Kent. Dates and locations are as follows:

• Wednesday 5 October: 3pm – 6pm: The Forum at Greenwich, Trafalgar Road, Greenwich SE10 9EQ
• Tuesday 11 October: 4.30pm – 8pm: Thameside Theatre, Orsett Road, Grays RM17 5DX
• Tuesday 25 October: Time TBC: Portsoken Community Centre, Little Somerset Street, London E1 8AA

Published in 2012, the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan was the first flood risk management strategy to adapt to different climate scenarios.

The plan covers 2,400km of roads, almost 4,000 electricity substations, 140 mainline and Tube stations and London City Airport and London Heliport.

However, while a recent review of the plan showed it was still a robust approach, the review also found that some tidal defences needed to be raised earlier than originally thought, some within the next 20 years.

Experts in flood protection now want local people to help update the existing strategy to reduce flood risk, to safeguard communities along the estuary.

“It’s crucial that we act now and work together – no organisation can deliver this ambitious strategy alone” the EA said.

Deadline to submit comments on the plan is 20 November 2022.

Click here to access the consultation online.

Click here to download the original Thames Estuary 2100 Plan

Click here to access the findings of the 10-Year Review online

Paper copies of the consultation can be requested from  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  and returned via email or sent to Thames Estuary 2100 Plan consultation, Environment Agency, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.

Climate change and growing flood risk – the upcoming Floodex 2022 event which takes place in London on 23rd and 24th November will highlight the need for multi-sector partnerships and collaboration to tackle growing flood risk in the face of the accelerating impacts of climate change. Click here to register for free entry