Flood alleviation · Wetland strategy
River Thames Scheme – Surrey
Landscape studies exploring wetlands and parks along the River Thames flood alleviation route between Egham and Teddington.
Project overview
Integrating flood infrastructure with new wetlands and parkland
Working alongside the Environment Agency, several studies were undertaken to test how new wetlands and parkland spaces could sit alongside the proposed River Thames flood alleviation scheme.
The work explored opportunities to create publicly accessible landscapes that deliver ecological uplift, flood storage and improved access to the river corridor.
Tags
Flood alleviation Wetlands Parks Strategic study Environment Agency
Project snapshot
- Client
- Environment Agency (via Enplan Ltd.)
- Location
- Between Egham & Teddington, Surrey
- Scope
- Landscape studies for wetlands, parks and access along a flood alleviation route.
- Key elements
- Wetland cells, flood storage basins, green corridors, riverside access.
The challenge
Combining flood risk infrastructure with valued landscapes
The scheme had to provide robust flood alleviation for communities along the Thames while working within a tightly constrained river corridor of existing settlements, infrastructure and habitats.
Any new landscape needed to be multi-functional: delivering flood storage, biodiversity and meaningful public access rather than purely engineering-led structures.
Outcomes
A framework for multi-functional river corridor landscapes
The studies illustrated how flood infrastructure could be integrated into generous wetland parks, rather than appearing as isolated engineered features.
Clear spatial concepts
Options showed how wetland cells, parkland and paths could be arranged within the available land.
Ecology-led thinking
Emphasis on habitat creation and connectivity along the river corridor.
Improved public access
Opportunities identified for new routes, viewpoints and local green spaces along the scheme.