Supplementary consultation launches this autumn for The River Thames Scheme

Have your say on national infrastructure project

The River Thames Scheme (RTS) is a national infrastructure project to reduce flood risk and improve green spaces in Surrey and Southwest London. It plans to do this with a landscape-based design.

Due to climate change, more extreme weather is likely to become more common. By creating a new channel in two sections, one in Runnymede and one in Spelthorne, the RTS will help protect 11,000 homes and 1,600 businesses from flooding.

The proposed design should improve access green open spaces across the scheme area. The scheme will create walking and cycling paths. It will also support nature by connecting different areas for wildlife. This will benefit both the environment and people's health and well-being by providing better access to nature.

A key part of projects like RTS is feedback from the local community and impacted groups. This feedback helps shape the final design, so the scheme works best for the people who live, work, and use the area.

Consultation so far

In early 2024, the RTS held a statutory consultation to hear from the public. Many people responded, raising a wide range of concerns and ideas.

Since then, the scheme has been carefully reviewing the feedback. This feedback has helped shape changes to the proposed design before we apply for development consent in 2025. It is important that every part of the design, construction, and operation is right to reduce negative impacts and maximise benefits for everyone who lives or works along the scheme area.

During statutory consultation, we asked for feedback on the design of Ferris Meadow Lake. We promised to keep looking at this design and to take people's opinions into account.