Greenwich Council's Cabinet has approved the borough's new Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (LFRMS), a statutory document outlining how flood risk will be managed over the next six years.

The strategy, which replaces the previous version from 2015, addresses flood risks from surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourses. It was developed following extensive data collection, consultation with stakeholders, and aligns with the Council's missions, including improving resident health, safety, and access to secure homes, as well as contributing to the Council's carbon neutral goals.

The Cabinet agreed to the publication of the completed strategy during their meeting on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. The strategy sets out five key objectives:

  • Improve knowledge and understanding of flood risk within Greenwich.
  • Maximise sustainability and biodiversity benefits by taking a holistic approach to flood risk management through natural flood management (NFM).
  • Reduce the risk of flooding to the community by delivering targeted flood alleviation schemes (FASs) and encouraging the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).
  • Investigate new funding opportunities for flood risk management.
  • Improve community awareness and preparedness of flood risk.

Map illustrating the risk of flooding from surface water within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, with areas categorized by risk level.
Map showing surface water flood risk

Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan, Cabinet Member for Transport, Climate Change, Waste andᠠ Streets, highlighted the importance of the strategy in managing flood risk and protecting homes, stating that managing flood risk keeps people safer.

Natural Flood Management and Sustainability

To maximise sustainability and biodiversity benefits, the LFRMS will employ a holistic approach to flood risk management using natural flood management (NFM) or sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). A case study on the Greenwich NFM programme outlines proposed works in Oxleas Woods, Clothworkers Wood, and Bostall Woods, including the creation of leaky dams, shallow berms, runoff management interventions, wetland creation, and regrading to provide detention capacity and ecological enhancements. NFM can also be achieved through enhancing flood storage, increasing catchment and channel roughness, promoting water losses, and de-synchronising peak flows.

Map illustrating the Wickham Valley Catchment area, showing rivers, watercourses, and designated sites within the borough boundary.
Wickham Valley Catchment map

Flood Alleviation Schemes and Funding

The strategy aims to reduce the risk of flooding to the community in Greenwich by delivering targeted flood alleviation schemes (FASs) and encouraging the use of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). While the Greenwich NFM programme is a key initiative, specific details on other prioritized or planned FASs are not provided.

The council is also committed to investigating new funding opportunities for flood risk management. Potential sources include the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant in Aid (FCERM GiA), Local Levy (Thames RFCC), GLA Funding (PROSPER Project, London Surface Water Strategy Funding), Community Infrastructure Levy, RMA Partnership Funding (Thames Water, Highways England, TfL), and Section 106 agreements. However, specific new funding opportunities being investigated or an estimated budget for implementing the strategy are not detailed.

Map illustrating the number of sewer flooding incidents by postcode in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Sewer flooding incidents map

Community Awareness and Preparedness

To improve community awareness and preparedness of flood risk, the LFRMS plans to explore setting up Flood Action Groups, particularly in hotspot areas and along the Thames. Residents will also receive guidance on property-level resistance and resilience measures, water resource management, runoff management, green roofs, de-paving, and flood warning systems. The council will also promote surface water flood risk information through website posts and social media. The effectiveness of these initiatives is not yet detailed.

Timeline and Consultation

The LFRMS was approved for publication by the Cabinet on 23 September 2026. The Action Plan within the LFRMS details timescales for actions as short term (0-2 years), medium term (2-4 years), long term (4-6 years), and ongoing. A specific timeline for the commencement of its key objectives beyond these general categories is not explicitly stated.

The strategy was developed following a public consultation period which concluded in May 2026, receiving 172 comments. Key themes from the consultation included planning and development, awareness, nature-based solutions, funding, maintenance, governance, and references to depaving areas and specific development proposals. Consultation also took place with various organisations, including Lewisham Council, Bexley Council, Bromley Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, and Historic England. The LFRMS has been updated based on these comments and is now ready for adoption.

Map illustrating the risk of flooding from reservoirs in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, showing potential inundation areas during wet and dry day events.
Reservoir flood risk map

Public reports pack 23rd-Sep-2026 14.00 Cabinet.pdf