River Thames Scheme

The Runnymede Channel section is nearly 3 miles (4.8 km) long and will run from Egham Hythe to Chertsey.

The Runnymede channel section will begin to the north of Ferry Avenue starting from an intake structure that will include a water level control gates on the west side of the River Thames (the right-hand side facing downstream).

• The Royal Hythe new green open space is proposed to the north of the channel at Egham Hythe.
• The scheme proposes the Norlands Lane woodland area of habitat along the west of the channel, from where it passes through the lake south of Green Lane, the lake south of Norlands Lane and into Fleet Lake. 
• A new blue open space, known as Penton Park, is being considered to the north of Abbey 1 Lake.
• A new wet meadow is proposed at Abbey Meads

More information on the Runnymede Channel section can be found in Chapter 7 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

The Spelthorne channel section is almost 2 miles (3.2 km long) and runs from Laleham to Weybridge.

The channel will leave the left bank of the River Thames (left hand side facing downstream) between Laleham Sports Ground and north of the M3 at Thames Side.

• A flood embankment will be created between Littleton North Lake and the Shepperton Industrial Estate.
• To maximise the provision of green open space and habitat creation, as well as upgrades to pathways and road junctions, a section of approximately 600 metres of the Spelthorne channel section at Sheepwalk has been realigned from the proposals at non-statutory consultation
• The scheme proposes for a new area of habitat to be created to the north of the Shepperton industrial estate.
• A new underbridge will be created under the M3.
• The Sheepwalk new green open space is proposed to the west of the channel to the south of the M3  
• A large area of open space and woodland habitat is proposed at the east of Sheepwalk at Manor Farm.  
• An area of open space with woodland and grassland habitats and two raised landforms is proposed at the Land South of Chertsey Road.  
• Wetland areas and further areas of habitat creation are also proposed adjacent to the channel south of the M3.

More information on the Spelthorne Channel section can be found in Chapter 7 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

Our proposals currently include the Spelthorne channel passing through Ferris Meadow Lake (Option 1). However, during the course of the scheme development the lake has become used for open water swimming. In light of this and associated feedback from stakeholders, we are currently undertaking a water quality assessment of the impacts of our current alignment on Ferris Meadow Lake and an options study to understand the feasibility of alternative alignment options for the Spelthorne Channel at this location.

The study is considering flood capacity, engineering, costs, policy and environmental factors alongside their fit with the scheme’s Environmental Design Principles (available for review as part of our statutory consultation material), which stem from the scheme’s goals. The outcomes of this study will be used, alongside the comments received in this consultation and previous consultations, as part of determining which option will be taken forward. Following this consultation and the completion of the options study, we will engage further with the public.

More information can be found in Chapter 7 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Option 1 - Our current proposal, Spelthorne channel passes through Ferris Meadow Lake.

Option 2 - Direct the flood channel north of Ferris Meadow Lake into the River Thames via the Chap along a newly constructed new route.

Option 3 - Divert the Spelthorne channel down the west side of Ferris Meadow Lake into the River Thames along a newly constructed route.

Option 4 - Divide the Spelthorne channel into two sections with half diverted to the north via the Chap and half down the west side of Ferris Meadow Lake along a newly constructed route.

Option 5 - A tunnel under Ferris Meadow Lake for flood flows with augmented flow diverted into the Chap via a newly constructed route.

Option 6A - Retain the flood relief channel alignment through Ferris Meadow Lake with the augmented flow diverted into the Chap via a newly constructed route.

Option 6B - Retain the flood relief channel alignment through Ferris Meadow Lake with the augmented flow diverted into the Chap via a newly constructed route with a new flow control structure.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

Bed Lowering downstream of Desborough Cut

To improve channel capacity, we are proposing to lower the riverbed within a stretch of the River Thames, around 1km in length, from the downstream end of Desborough Cut to just downstream of Walton Marina.

Additional weir gates

The additional gates at Sunbury, Molesey and Teddington will create a new pathway for water at the weir complex, supporting the current gates and weirs. By using these extra gates, less water will flow through the existing gates and weirs which will in turn lower water levels upstream.

Further information about the engineering of the weirs and bed lowering can be found in Chapter 7 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

A central route for active travel of around 5 and a half miles is proposed.

• The route will be fully segregated between cyclist and pedestrian users and will connect the two new primary green open spaces at Royal Hythe and Sheepwalk (Land South of Chertsey Road) and the new potential blue open space at Abbey 1 Lake (known as Penton Park).
• The active travel route will comprise of multiple links to connect local communities such as Staines, Egham Hythe, Thorpe, Laleham, Chertsey, Shepperton Green, Old Shepperton, Weybridge and Walton.
• The route includes the building of two new bridge crossings for non-motorised use over the River Thames, connecting Chertsey to Laleham, and at Desborough Island to Ferris Meadow Lake.

Further information on active travel route can be found in Chapter 7 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

Our new flood channel will reduce the risk of flooding to 11,000 homes and 1,600 businesses and infrastructure. The combined impact on flood risk from the new channel and the downstream measures will significantly enhance flood resilience and in turn will provide better protection to homes, infrastructure and the environment for the areas along the River Thames. Details on the impact of the scheme on flood risk can be found in Chapter 7 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

Materials and Waste

Our work will involve the excavation of large volumes of materials and waste. We plan to reuse and recover significant amounts of materials and waste within the scheme where this is required for the scheme design. Where materials must be taken off-site, the project shall utilise the waste hierarchy to determine if they can be put to beneficial reuse or recovery before utilising disposal as the last resort.

Using material and waste within the scheme to achieve its design has sustainability benefits. It helps to reduce construction traffic, air quality and noise impacts, and reduces our overall carbon footprint and material demands on the wider aggregate and construction materials market.

Complying with the law

The waste hierarchy, which prioritises how waste is managed and is embedded within UK legislation – is at the heart of our approach. We will adhere to all relevant legislation and guidelines. Any materials and waste set for reuse or recovery will be managed through suitable mechanisms.

Potential locations for waste and/or material processing, and associated temporary storage, include Royal Hythe, Sheepwalk, Manor Farm, Ferris Meadow Lake, and Land South of Chertsey Road, as outlined in our PEIR. There is no waste processing proposed at Ferris Meadow Lake.

Further information on our materials management principles can be found in Chapter 8 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

The River Thames scheme is a major project of national significance, and we recognise that there will be impacts during construction. It is important to us that we prioritise being considerate constructors, minimising disruption to the community and prioritising safety, environmental responsibility, and respect for residents throughout the construction process. Further information on construction principles can be found in Chapter 9 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Our Construction Programme

We expect construction to run from mid-2026 to early 2032, with the flood channel operational from 2030. It is expected that the main construction works will take around four years to complete.

Our Construction Methods

The shape of the flood channel will vary depending on the ground conditions, without compromising the benefits of what we want to achieve. The width of the channel will be minimised where possible, given engineering and construction constraints, and to avoid excess excavation and the processing of materials.

Working hours

We anticipate that most of the construction work would take place between Monday and Saturday and will take place between 8am and 6pm. Some construction activities will potentially require working seven days a week and across 24 hours a day. These activities would also require associated lighting, including: delivery of abnormal loads, placing and/or pouring of large concrete structures, piling works for road bridges, utilities diversions and water treatment plants.

We may also take advantage of longer daylight hours during the summer to carry out earthworks, which require drier weather.

Construction noise

To help reduce the impacts of our construction noise, we will take steps such as timing construction to minimise work outside of normal working hours where possible.

Construction Compounds

During the construction period, there will be a need for a series of temporary site compounds. These will be required to store equipment and materials and to provide office space and welfare facilities for construction workers. Locations currently being considered for the two main compounds include Royal Hythe, Sheepwalk and/or Manor Farm. These main compounds will be approximately 2,500 metres squared in size and may be combined with the temporary material processing and storage sites. The proposed locations of these sites can be found in Chapter 9 of the  brochure .

Transport for Materials and Workers

When we start construction, there will be traffic from our vehicles and workers, which might put extra pressure on local highways. To manage this, we will plan specific routes for our construction traffic to follow. Where possible, we will avoid the local highway network by creating temporary haul roads through our working areas. These routes would be designed to have the least impact on local highways and will have dedicated access directly to main roads (A roads) where suitable.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

We are focused on maximising the environmental benefits of the RTS and minimising the negative effects. With a robust and compliant assessment framework and strategic mitigation measures, the RTS is set to be a catalyst for ecological advancement.

How the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) shapes the RTS

The PEIR plays a crucial role in shaping the RTS by presenting our preliminary assessment of the scheme’s  likely significant effects. These assessments are framed as a reasonable ‘worst-case’ scenario, which is a precautionary measure taken when design, construction, or baseline information is incomplete, such as when additional surveys or design work is needed.

Environmental benefits of the River Thames scheme

Once built and operational, the RTS will provide significant environmental benefits, such as:

• Reduced flooding risk
• Biodiversity enhancement
• Health benefits
• Enhanced landscape
• Traffic and transportation

Potential negative effects and mitigation approach

A scheme of this size will inevitably have some potential negative effects, mostly during the construction phase but also when in operation, as set out in the PEIR. We are proactively addressing these issues by developing and implementing mitigation measures to effectively manage and minimise these negative effects, ensuring they remain within acceptable levels. Construction activities will be temporary and are expected to last for approximately six years. Activities will be phased to reduce the impact in any single location. Some of the potential effects include:

• Changes in water environment
• Management of Material
• Traffic noise and air quality
• Health and Wellbeing
• Habitat and biodiversity
• Effect on archaeology
• Flood risk
• Climate resilience and carbon emissions
• Landscape and visual effects
• Socio-economic effects
• Effect on soils and land

More information on the environmental effects of the scheme can be found in Chapter 10 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation and in the  Digital PEIR 

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

We are already engaging with landowners and occupiers affected by the scheme, and we will continue to work with them to reduce the impacts by understanding their specific concerns.

We appreciate the ongoing cooperation and support in developing our proposals. Whilst the scheme brings benefits to the local communities, many land interests within the scheme boundary will have different needs and will be concerned about how the scheme may affect them.

For different areas of land, the scheme may require different powers such as, but not limited to, buying land out right (freehold acquisition), acquiring rights over land and/or temporarily using land during the construction period only. We are committed to obtaining all interests in land by private agreement wherever possible. However, in the event that negotiations with land interests are unsuccessful, we will seek compulsory powers in the application for a DCO to be able to deliver the scheme. Statutory compensation would be payable where we need to acquire interests in land.

As part of the consultation, we have written to everyone that we have identified as having an interest in land to let them know about the consultation and invite them to share their views. We will consider the feedback and continue to work with landowners following this consultation, refining our proposals in the light of feedback received before submitting our application to the Planning Inspectorate.

Further information on working with land interests can be found in Chapter 11 of the  brochure  for statutory consultation.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

We value your feedback, and it will play an important role in refining and shaping the scheme we submit for development consent later this year. The consultation period runs from January 22nd to 23:59 on March 4th, 2024. To ensure your responses are considered in the scheme's development, kindly submit them by the deadline.

Here's how you can provide feedback:

• Online: The easiest way to complete the feedback form is online:  https://www.surreysays.co.uk/river-thames-scheme-rts-team-communications-engagement/river-thames-scheme . You can save your responses and return at your convenience.
• By Post: Fill out a paper copy of the feedback form and mail it to us using our Freepost address: FREEPOST RTUK – RBLY – XUBT, RIVER THAMES SCHEME, 5 First Street, Manchester, M15 4GU. Paper copies are available at our events or upon request via post or email.
• By Email: If you're unable to complete the feedback form, email us at  enquiries@riverthamesscheme.org.uk  to receive the digital feedback form. Clearly state in your email that it is your RTS consultation feedback for it to be considered.

You can reach us through various channels:

• Call us at 03456 009 009.
• Send us an email at enquiries@riverthamesscheme.org.uk
• Visit our website at   www.riverthamesscheme.org.uk  

Accessibility

Please find the accessibility document  here. 

Attend our events, either in person or virtually, to learn more about our proposals. These events provide an opportunity to explore the details, access consultation documents, and speak with our project team to get answers to your questions. Join us at face-to-face sessions held in different locations within the proposed scheme area to discuss the project, and feel free to take home a  brochure  and feedback form. 

These virtual events will present the scheme and allow you to ask questions about the scheme. Check the times and dates details below: 

We have several locations in the community where you can get information in addition to what is on our website or at our events. You will find copies of the consultation  brochure  and technical documents, such as our Preliminary Environmental Information Report, available to view at the following venues in the community: 

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

Website

To find out more about our Scheme and access to the full suite of documents associated with this consultation, please click  here. 

• X (formerly known as Twitter):  @ThamesScheme  
• Facebook:  @RiverThamesScheme 
• Instagram  @RiverThamesScheme.uk 
• YouTube  @RiverThamesScheme 
• LinkedIn  @RiverThamesScheme  
• NextDoor  @RiverThamesScheme 

If you have any questions about the scheme or our consultation process (including requests for documents), please contact us by:

• Telephone: Surrey County Council Contact Centre - 03456 009 009
• Email:  enquiries@riverthamesscheme.org.uk
• Text (SMS): 07860 053 465 (for the deaf or hard of hearing community)
• Textphone: (via Relay UK): 18001 03456 009 009

How to find out more

Requests for alternative formats of the  brochure  and  feedback form , including translations and large print, will be considered on an individual basis. These requests will be discussed with the requester to accommodate specific circumstances, and such alternative formats will be provided free of charge. 

Upon request, a single paper copy of the consultation brochure and  feedback  form will be provided at no cost to any UK address during the consultation period. However, additional supporting documents, such as the PEIR, Non-Technical Summaries, and accompanying maps, may be subject to a charge to cover printing and postage expenses, with a maximum limit of £500.

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .

Once the consultation has closed, we will review the feedback. This feedback will be used to produce a consultation report which will summarise the findings. This report will also include information on how we have considered feedback and how this has informed any changes to our proposals or refinements of the scheme. The report will be submitted as part of our DCO application to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through the Planning Inspectorate (‘PINS’). It will be made available to the public following submission of the application, which is expected to be in early 2025. 

Our application for a DCO will only be accepted if we are able to show that we have met our statutory consultation duties for our DCO application. After submission, the process of examination and decision-making will then take approximately 18 months. This will involve a pre-examination stage whereby the local community and stakeholders will be provided with a 28-day notice of how to register as an interested party and submit representations. An Examining Authority will assess the DCO application with the input from interested parties and statutory consultees within six months, submitting a recommendation to the Secretary of State within three months of the end of the examination period.  

The final decision on the DCO approval is made by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs within three months of receiving the recommendation. Assuming success, we plan to start construction in mid-2026 while continuing detailed design work. 

Get involved by submitting your response to the consultation before March 4, 2024, to shape the final design. 

Your input is crucial. Please contribute to our consultation, and help shape the future of RTS, through our  feedback form .