Sutton Faces Flood Risk: 1,866 Properties at High Risk

14 December 2025

Sutton is grappling with a significant flood risk, with an estimated 1,866 properties identified as being at high risk of flooding, according to a report presented at the Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday 10 December 2025.

The council, designated as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, is working to manage the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater, and ordinary watercourses. The Flood Risk Management Update report highlighted the increasing importance of flood risk management, especially in light of the declared climate emergency.

The report outlined the responsibilities of five bodies across the borough with flood risk management powers, including the council as LLFA and Highway Authority, Transport for London, Thames Water, and the Environment Agency. The report stated that the current system, where five bodies have flood risk management powers, can make it difficult to confirm which is the relevant body when a problem occurs. The council is considering measures to address these difficulties in determining the responsible body when a flood problem occurs, according to the report.

Sutton's Multi-agency Flood Plan 2022 (MAFP) outlines the plans of all organisations with emergency planning roles under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

The Sutton Local Flood Risk Management Strategy is aligned with the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy.

The report also referenced a flood event on 23 September 2024, where 58.2mm of rain fell in 24 hours, leading to a statutory flood investigation. The results of the council's statutory flood investigation (section 19 report) are published on the Council website.

Updates were provided on several flood alleviation projects:

Cuddington Recreation Ground Worcester Park Flood Alleviation Scheme: Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring/Summer 2026, pending contractor quotations. The scheme aims to reduce flooding downstream by de-culverting a section of the Beverley Brook and creating a new wetland and two basins.
Beddington Area: A review has been conducted to identify the highest risks. Internal flooding of properties will be prioritised for mitigation work.
SuDS in Sutton Schools (SiSS): This programme, which built sustainable drainage systems in five schools and the Denmark Road Offices, is now being closed down. The council may reintroduce such a scheme in the future if considered an effective solution to local flood risk issues.
Additional Flood Measures: Funding is available for small-scale sustainable drainage features to mitigate flood risk. Opportunities to carry out flood alleviation works will be assessed by first compiling a long list of possible sites in catchments where there is a high risk of flooding and space available for schemes where water can be captured.

The Sutton Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Action Plan details actions aligned with the strategy's objectives. Between April and September 2025, the LLFA received 20 consultations regarding new development proposals.

Councils Involved

Sutton

Meetings Involved

the Scrutiny Committee of Sutton Council on 10 December 2025

People Involved

Councillor Bobby Dean Liberal Democrat • The Wrythe

Councillor Muhammad Sadiq Chair: Beddington and Wallington Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • Wallington South

Councillor Colin Stears Chair, Audit and Governance Committee; Vice Chair, Hackbridge, St Helier and the Wrythe Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • The Wrythe

Councillor Steve Alvarez Local Conservatives • St Helier West

Councillor Andrew Jenner Chair: Carshalton and Clockhouse Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • Carshalton Central

Councillor Edward Joyce Chair: Scrutiny Committee, Vice Chair: Beddington and Wallington Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • South Beddington and Roundshaw

Councillor Qasim Esak Vice Chair: Scrutiny Committee • Liberal Democrat • Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Gemma Munday Liberal Democrat • St Helier East

Councillor Patrick Ogbonna Chair: Hackbridge, St Helier and the Wrythe Local Committee • Liberal Democrat • The Wrythe

Councillor Luke Taylor Liberal Democrat • Sutton West and East Cheam

Councillor Martina Allen Chair: Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee • Local Conservatives • Worcester Park South

Councillor Tim Crowley Local Conservatives • Carshalton South and Clockhouse

Councillor Neil Garratt Local Conservatives • Belmont

Councillor Joe Quick Local Conservatives • Worcester Park North

Topics

Sutton Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Cuddington Recreation Ground Worcester Park Flood Alleviation Scheme SuDS in Sutton Schools (SiSS) flood risk Thames Water National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Cuddington Recreation Ground Worcester Park Flood Alleviation Scheme Sutton Local Flood Risk Management Strategy Action Plan FM Conway Limited Transport for London (TFL) Environment Agency