The Environment

Hi everyone, especially Thamesiders:

Thames Estuary 2100 public consultation launched on 26th September

Over the past 3 years, we have been working with partners to review and update the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. We are now in the final stages of this and will launch the updated Plan next spring, setting out how we can work together to manage flood risk in the Thames Estuary.

I am excited that we have launched a consultation (link live from 26th September) on key content for the updated Plan from Monday 26th September. The consultation will run for 8 weeks to 20 November.

This is your opportunity to:

Tell us whether you support the updated outcomes that set out what we need to achieve
Share this message and supporting materials with your partners and communities – and others you work with in the estuary
Have your say on the content proposed for the updated Plan before it’s published next year

The content within the consultation is the culmination of 3 years of collaborative working across the estuary on the 10-Year Review (the first full review and update of the strategy since it was published in 2012). It includes an updated set of outcomes which reflect our collective ambitions for flood risk management, sustainability and place-making in the Thames Estuary. Furthermore, we have used the latest climate science and evidence to review deadlines and evidence for the updated Plan, reflect changes in policy since 2012 and incorporate improved ways of working, based on feedback from our partners.

The 10-Year Review found that the original Plan remains robust and sets out reliable pathways for adapting to the impacts of sea level rise. However, sea level rise is accelerating, and it is crucial that we act now. Some of the deadlines for upgrading defences in the estuary have come forward. We cannot do this alone – we need to work with your organisation to create a resilient estuary for future generations to enjoy. This is a huge milestone for the Environment Agency and our partners, as the first full update of a world-leading adaptive flood risk management strategy. We really welcome your support by responding to this consultation, and encouraging others in your organisation to respond.

Supporting material to share with colleagues and partners

I would be very grateful if you can help us to promote the consultation (and supporting drop-in events) to the communities and businesses you work with in the estuary, using these supporting materials:

Pack of media materials (tweets, GIFs, banners, blog posts)
Single page briefing showing consultation details - attached
Posters promoting drop-in events across the estuary - attached

Please note we are also looking to hold two more drop-ins towards the end of October or early November; one in the City of London and one in Richmond. All drop-ins are generic to the whole area of the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. Please contact the team for further details on these events.

If you have any questions, please let me know, or get in touch with the Thames Estuary 2100 team at thamesestuary2100@environment-agency.gov.uk.

[Please pardon the formatting above. I thought I was just copy & pasting an email I received].