Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures - Background

Overview

• Page 1 - Welcome
• Page 2 - Background of the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures
• Page 3 - Scheme Information
• Page 4 - Potential Measures
• Page 5 - Environmental considerations and surveys
• Page 6 - Flood Risk
• Page 7 - Public Engagement

Finding solutions together

The River Thames has a long history of flooding. In 2014, over 130 properties flooded in the study area, with major impacts on people and infrastructure. People were forced to leave their homes for months and years in some cases due to the severity of damage. With climate change, the risk of flooding is only going to grow.

Pictures of Datchet Village showing flooding in February 2014

The River Thames from Datchet to Hythe End was previously included in the River Thames Scheme as Channel 1. However, Channel 1 was neither viable nor deliverable without either additional funding or greater flexibility sought over council tax. This meant that the River Thames Scheme Sponsorship Group decided in July 2020 to proceed without Channel 1.

Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures was therefore established to explore alternative options. See diagram below for details of the team. Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures is part of the Environment Agency’s 6-year capital investment programme (2021 to 2027) in England. The government has committed £5.2 billion across the programme, to better protect hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across England. The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has committed £10 million to strategic flood infrastructure work.

Next page: Scheme Information