Kent
Water and Flooding
A Geography of Kent
The county of Kent is located in the South East Corner of the United Kingdom, and is home to a population of 1.8 million. The county town of Kent is Maidstone, and the City of Canterbury is also located within Kent. Other major settlements include Dover, Tonbridge, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells and Margate.
Three main rivers traverse the county of Kent. The Darent is a tributary of the Thames, rising in Westerham in West Kent and joining the Thames north of Dartford.
The Medway is Kent's longest river at 70 miles long. The Medway's source is in East Sussex, but the bulk of the length is within Kent flowing north through Tonbridge, Maidstone and Rochester before emptying into the Thames Estuary.
The Great Stour is located in East Kent, running from the confluence of its branches near Ashford, and running north-east through Canterbury and Sandwich, flowing out to sea south of Ramsgate. Its branches include the River Stour, the Upper Great Stour and the Lower Great Stour.
A Flood History of Kent
An timeline of some of the worst flood events that have occurred in Kent.
January 1953
During the night of the 31st January, the North Kent Coast was hit by a storm surge. High tides, low pressure and strong winds combined to bring 20ft waves ashore from the North Sea. There were no deaths in Kent that night, but the North Sea floods caused over 500 deaths in the UK, and another 2,000 deaths across the Netherlands, Belgium, France. Image: Police went to the aid of people trapped in their homes in Margate, BBC News
September 1968
Severe rainfall on Sunday 15th September 1968 caused the worst inland flooding in Kent for over 100 years. Over 14,000 properties were flooded, with Maidstone, Tonbridge, Dartford and Tunbridge Wells being amongst the worst affected areas. Image: People attempt to manoeuvre a coach through the deep water in Dartford, BBC News
August 1996
On August 12th 1996, Folkestone endured its worst flooding on record as 100mm rain fell in just two hours and the Pent Stream burst its banks. Over 200 properties were affected, and flood water was 2 metres deep in places. Holes were created in Folkestone's harbour walls to allow the flood water to drain into the English Channel.
October 2000
A series of ex-hurricanes and tropical storms battered Britain in the days leading up to October 12th 2000, contributing to the wettest autumn on record. Much of the county was submerged, including areas of Herne Bay, Maidstone, East Peckham and Yalding. Image: Situated on the convergence of three rivers, Yalding was one of the worst-hit areas. Kent Online
Communities at risk of flooding
The areas of Kent most at risk from flooding from rivers and the sea
01 / 06
1
The Medway
A number of towns and villages have been built on the floodplains of the River Medway and its tributaries, meaning that flooding is an ever-present risk in this area.
2
Darent Valley
Major flooding of the River Darent has occurred on several occasions throughout history, most notably in 1968, 2000/01 and 2013/14.
3
The Romney Marsh
The Romney Marsh and Dungeness are situated on land reclaimed from the sea over a period of thousands of years. As a result, the area is at significant risk of coastal flooding, exacerbated by the effects of global warming and sea level rise.
4
The Isle of Sheppey
The coastal defences on the Isle of Sheppey were overtopped during the significant flooding in 1953. As sea levels continue to rise, the risk of tidal flooding increases.
5
The North Kent Coast
The 1953 flood caused extensive damage to the North Kent Coast. The constant threat of coastal flooding remains as the impacts of climate change develop.
6
East Kent Coast
The Rivers Stour and Dour pose a fluvial flood risk to the settlements in East Kent. Coastal flooding has also impacted this area in the past, notably in 1953.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Risk Management Authorities who are responsible for flooding and flood risk in Kent. Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
The Environment Agency
Overall responsibility for flood risk in the United Kingdom falls under the remit of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), through the Environment Agency (EA). The EA are responsible for flooding from main rivers and the sea. In Kent, it is estimated that 64,000 properties are at risk of flooding from main rivers and the sea.
Southern Water
The Water Company is responsible for flooding from sewers. In most of Kent, it is Southern Water that is responsible. Some areas of North West Kent are covered by Thames Water. Check who is responsible in your area by entering your postcode here .
Kent County Council
Kent County Council are the Lead Local Flooding Authority and are responsible for flooding from surface water and ordinary watercourses that are not classified as main rivers. It is estimated that there are around 24,000 properties at risk from surface water flooding in Kent, one of the highest risks of any local authority in England.
The Highways Department within Kent County Council are responsible for flooding from highways drainage.
Where to get help and advice
- In an emergency, where there is risk to life, always call 999.
- Report sewer flooding to Southern Water by calling 0330 303 0368 (24 hours).
- Report sewer flooding to Thames Water by calling 0800 316 9800 (24 hours).
- Report highways flooding or blocked drainage gulley's to Kent County Council Highways here .
- If a flood on a road is putting homes at risk, call Kent County Council on 03000 41 81 81 (office hours) or 03000 41 91 91 (out of office hours).
- To report flooding from rivers or the sea, call the Environment Agency Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60 (24 hours).
- If your home is flooded, ensure you call your insurance company for assistance.
- Sign up to the Flood Warning Service here or call Floodline on 0345 988 1188.
- Call the National Flood Forum free for advice or guidance on 01299 403055 (office hours).
Planning and Development
A map of the District and Borough Councils in Kent
In Kent, the Borough and District Councils are the lead planning authorities. You can view and comment on active planning applications on your Borough or District Council's website. You can view county wide planning policy and applications relating to drainage, waste, minerals, gas and oil on the Kent County Council web page here .
There is currently an open consultation period to seek views on the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities' proposed approach to updating the National Planning Policy Framework. Read more about this, and find out how to have your voice heard here . The consultation period ends on March 2nd 2023.
Building a safer future: a guide for communities on the planning system and flood risk. The Town and Country Planning Association, in partnership with The National Flood Forum have produced guidance for communities explaining how flood risk is dealt with in the English planning system and how communities can most effectively get their voices and concerns heard in planning decisions. You can view and download this guidance here .
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