This web page has been set up to share information about the Sanway-Byfleet Flood Alleviation Scheme. We welcome your feedback and questions on our proposals via our online survey or by using the contact details on the right-hand side of this page. The survey will be open from 12 May 2022 to 19 June 2022. However, we are always delighted to hear your comments and feedback at any time even after this date. We will do our best to take them into account.
The scheme is being developed by the Environment Agency in partnership with Woking Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Byfleet Flood Forum, National Highways, Thames Water, and the local community.
May 2022 engagement events
We held 2 engagement events to share our latest proposals for the scheme. Feedback we received is in the ‘Documents May 2022 folder at the end of this web page
The below map shows the area covered by the scheme, including Broadoak Weir which is southwest of the Sanway-Byfleet area. You can also download a PDF of the plan.
Why is the scheme needed?
Byfleet has experienced several notable floods in 1968, 2000 and 2003. Recently, in 2013/14 prolonged heavy rainfall resulted in flooding from the River Wey and a total of 74 properties were flooded.
Following the most recent winter 2013/14 flood a high-level meeting was held between the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council.
The Environment Agency agreed to review options to reduce flood risk at several locations in the Byfleet and Weybridge area and to produce an Initial Assessment to confirm whether there are any potential viable options to address flood risk. The appraisal identified an economically viable scheme for the Sanway area in Byfleet.
The scheme now aims to better protect from flooding up to 236 properties in the Sanway area of Byfleet taking into account climate change which is larger than the number we have shared previously.
Sanway-Byfleet area, 1968
Byfleet has a long history of flooding, with a large flood in September 1968 causing significant damage to properties along the River Wey. It was one of the largest floods seen in this area and was estimated as being a 1 in 200 chance of flooding.
The below image shows a snapshot of the flood in the Sanway-Byfleet area in 1968.
Sanway-Byfleet during the 1968 flood
Modelled flood risk May 2022
The below map shows the current likelihood of flooding in the area. This shows the impact of a 1 in 100 chance of flooding in any given year, taking into account the effects of climate change. This means that in any one year there will be a 1% chance that the area will experience flooding. You can also download a PDF of the plan. The below map shows the current possibility of flooding for the area. You can also download a PDF of the plan.
We have been developing the scheme over the last few years and are now in the options appraisal stage where we identify our preferred option.
We ran our first public engagement event in February 2019 and the second in March 2021.
For the February 2019 engagement event, we were able to meet face-to-face and held 2 local drop-ins to share our initial proposals for reducing flooding across a larger area of Surrey, which included Byfleet and Weybridge. You can download a copy of the boards used at the events here.
The March 2021 event included a website and virtual public meetings held on Zoom. At that time, we shared our proposals for the Sanway-Byfleet area in particular. You can download a copy of the slides used at the events.
We have used the feedback from these events to inform the development of the flood alleviation scheme.
The plan below shows our previous flood defence proposals from March 2021 in the Sanway-Byfleet area. You can also download a PDF of the plan.
Previous flood defence proposals from March 2021
Since March 2021 we have:
General
Broadoak Weir and Fish Pass
Broad Ditch
Byfleet Mill Weir and Fish Pass
To reduce flooding from the River Wey, we propose to install a combination of flood walls and flood embankments (known as a flood defence). Embankments and flood walls protect homes by acting as barriers to flood water up to the standard of protection provided.
The flood defence will range in height depending on whether the land is low lying. The western end of the defence ties into the M25 embankment next to Broad Ditch and runs east in Common Meadow along the rear boundary of properties in the Fullerton Road and Sanway Road area. The defence then runs northwards to protect properties in Summer Close before ending on higher ground.
The flood defence will not increase flood risk to other areas because the scheme will also involve the creation of new areas of “compensatory floodplain storage”, which will hold the flood water that is displaced by the flood defence.
The defence is designed to provide a standard of protection of 1 in 100 chance of flooding in any given year, taking into account the effects of climate change. This means that in any one year there will be a 1% chance that the area will experience flooding.
Our current flood defence proposals include:
The plan below shows the proposed alignment of the flood defence and the areas where we require compensatory floodplain storage. You can also download a PDF of the plan.
We aim to mitigate the adverse impact of the proposed scheme on the environment, for both:
As well as mitigating the adverse impact of the proposed scheme, we are required to provide improvements that achieve a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain in each of the three components (terrestrial habitats, hedgerows, and rivers) to achieve planning permission.
We will aim to deliver more than 10% biodiversity net gain, where it is cost-effective to do so.
While the aim of the scheme is to reduce flooding, we also have an opportunity to deliver some wider benefits to the community and the natural environment in the area.
In January 2020, we held a workshop focused on potential environmental benefits the scheme could create. 50 people attended, including local residents, the Byfleet Flood Forum, landowners, environmental experts, the Environment Agency, local councillors, and local council officers.
Following this, we have been working on various options for creating community and environmental opportunities.
Environmental enhancement and improvements are proposed to include:
Example photo of riverbank enhancement on the River Wey
View 1 - Aerial view of Common Meadows
You can also download a PDF of the below image.
What’s new?
Earth embankment flood defence to better protect from flooding the properties in Sanway.
Proposed new paths to allow recreational access across Common Meadows. We may need to install other items such as fencing and steps. We will work out these details during the next stage of the project.
New planting and habitat improvements within Common Meadows to improve biodiversity.
View 2 - View of Common Meadows towards Fullerton Road
You can also download a PDF of the below image.
What’s new?
Grassed earth embankment flood defence to better protect from flooding the properties in Sanway from the River Wey.
The flood defence is 2.2m above existing round levels at this location, the highest part of the flood defences.
View 3 - Dry overflow channel
You can also download a PDF of the below image.
What’s new?
Channel west of the M25 that will normally be dry but convey water southwards during flooding from the Broad Ditch to the River Wey.
This will ensure flood risk does not increase upstream as a result of the scheme.
View 4 - Flood defence embankment north of access from Fullerton Road
You can also download a PDF of the below image.
What’s new?
Earth embankment flood defences looking northwards from the access into Manor Farm from Fullerton Road.
View 5 - Manor Farm Compensatory Floodplain Storage Area
You can also download a PDF of the below image.
What’s new?
Compensatory Floodplain Storage Area is where the ground levels will be lowered to provide space for flood water that is displaced by the construction of the flood defences.
The land will be reseeded to provide enhanced grassland increasing biodiversity.
The economic benefits of the scheme include:
The cost of the scheme includes:
Based on current information, we anticipate the scheme will cost in the region of £15 million to £20 million.
Sanway-Byfleet Flood Alleviation Scheme funding
We have agreed funding in principle. Once we have Outline Business Case approval, we can progress this flood alleviation scheme to the next stage which will be detailed design and planning permission.
Woking Borough Council and Surrey County Council are proposing substantial contributions for both the flood alleviation and environmental enhancements for the scheme.
Target Dates
The following dates subject to stakeholder agreement, planning permission, funding approvals and construction risks:
How to take part
How we use your information
We publish a summary of responses on our website in which we publish the name of the organisation for those responses made on behalf of organisations.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we may be required to publish your response, but it will not include any personal information. If you have requested your response to be kept confidential, we may still be required to provide a summary of it.
If you would like anything in your response to be kept confidential, you are asked to state clearly what information you would like to be kept as confidential and explain your reasons for confidentiality. The reason for this is that information in responses to this engagement may be subject to release to the public or other parties in accordance with the access to information law (these are primarily the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs), the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA)). We have obligations, mainly under the EIRs, FOIA and DPA, to disclose information to particular recipients or to the public in certain circumstances.
In view of this, your explanation of your reasons for requesting confidentiality for all or part of your response would help us balance these obligations for disclosure against any obligation of confidentiality.
If we receive a request for the information that you have provided in your response to this engagement, we will take full account of your reasons for requesting confidentiality of your response, but we cannot guarantee that confidentiality can be maintained in all circumstances.
The Environment Agency is the data controller for the personal data you provide. For further information on how we deal with your personal data please see our Personal Information Charter or contact our Data Protection team.
Address: Data Protection team, Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AH
Email: dataprotection@environment-agency.gov.uk
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