There have been various measures taken throughout London since the summer to reduce the risk of flooding. The Environment Agency led a series of meetings with local London boroughs. It also conducted a series of meetings with the affected local authorities. In addition, the Government Office for London (GOL) led a post-20 July 2007 lessons learned meeting, the outcomes of which will be incorporated into a fundamental check review of the existing London Strategic Flood Response Plan.
The Environment Agency is also leading an integrated urban drainage pilot in Kingston, funded by DEFRA. This has been developed over the past few months with local authorities and Thames Water and has recommended several ways to address surface water flooding. The Environment Agency and DEFRA will also be feeding into a new Forum ‘Drain London’ to assess the location and causes of surface water flooding across London and identify solutions.
Thames Estuary 2100 is an Environment Agency project developing a tidal flood risk management plan for London and the Thames Estuary until the end of the century. The plan will take into account increasing flood risk due to climate change, rising sea-levels, ageing of the existing flood management infrastructure and new development in the defended tidal floodplain.