Hounslow Council has approved a comprehensive Climate Change Resilience Plan aimed at preparing the borough for the escalating impacts of climate change, including heatwaves, flooding, and drought.

The plan, endorsed by the Cabinet on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, identifies six priority climate hazards: surface water flooding, high temperatures and heatwaves, drought and water stress, severe storms, tidal flooding, and wildfires. It consolidates existing resilience activities into a strategic framework and identifies additional actions needed to manage future risks.

An icon representing a house being flooded by a large wave, symbolizing climate change impacts.
Flood risk icon

Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm, presented the plan, highlighting the increasing frequency and severity of climate impacts. Climate change doesn't affect everyone equally, he stated, emphasizing the need to protect the most vulnerable groups through the plan's actions. The plan explicitly addresses the protection of vulnerable groups, focusing resilience efforts not only on areas with the greatest physical risks but also on those where social impacts may be most severe, particularly in Equality Opportunity Areas (EOAs), which represent the most deprived areas in Hounslow.

Map of Hounslow showing new Equality Opportunity Areas, color-coded and labeled with district names.
Equality Opportunity Areas map

The plan assesses risks under +2°C and +4°C global warming scenarios and outlines a delivery framework based on community engagement, partnership working, operational adaptation, policy, and data.

Key priority actions include:

  • Strengthening drought resilience and managing water stress: The plan prioritises drought and heat preparedness across buildings and critical services by setting borough-wide standards for schools, care homes, and hospitals. It will also support borough-wide water conservation through community engagement and enhance drought guidance for high-risk groups. Furthermore, green and natural assets will be safeguarded through drought-ready management strategies.

  • Protecting essential infrastructure: Measures include coordinated drought-ready management to safeguard water supplies and public services, and strengthening tidal flood preparedness and contingency plans for critical services. The plan also ensures readiness for the Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100) and Riverside Strategy delivery, and will review and prioritise local tidal defence assets. Storm coordination and critical asset readiness will also be improved.

  • Reducing overheating in buildings: The plan aims to reduce overheating risk in corporate buildings, schools, and social housing through planned upgrades and practical cooling measures. It will also pilot overheating mitigation in high-risk housing blocks and establish a long-term adaptation pathway for social housing. Fabric-first and overheating standards in new residential development are also included.

  • Increasing community preparedness for surface water flooding: Concrete steps include strengthening surface water flood risk communication for residents, developing a basic flood preparedness and response protocol for caravan residents, and targeted Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and green infrastructure delivery with community partnership. Support and guidance will also be provided for residents at risk from wildfire smoke and heat proximity to open spaces.

A diagram illustrating Hounslow Council's 'Building Climate Resilience' plan, categorizing actions into Adaptation and Mitigation strategies with associated icons.
Building Climate Resilience diagram

Map of Hounslow showing summer temperature hotspots and Equality Opportunity Areas.
Summer temperature hotspots map

Map illustrating surface water flood risk across the borough under different rainfall event scenarios, as part of the Climate Change Resilience Plan.
Surface water flood risk map

The Council aims to embed climate resilience within its decision-making, service planning, and investment strategies. Implementation will be managed as part of the existing Climate Emergency Action Plan, with progress reported annually.

Approximately 50% of the actions will be delivered through existing projects, asset management, and planned capital investment programmes, costing around £1 million and already included in Council budgets. The remaining actions are currently unfunded, with an estimated £6 million required for their delivery. The progression of these unfunded actions will be subject to business case development and budget approvals through the Council's corporate processes. The plan also mentions pursuing external funding opportunities, such as from the Environment Agency and Thames Water, for SuDS and flood resilience programs, and maximizing partnership initiatives.

An illustration depicting various aspects of community life in the London Borough of Hounslow, including schools, community centers, parks, and local businesses.
Hounslow community illustration

For more details, refer to the Public reports pack and Printed minutes from the Cabinet meeting.