What is the Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures project?

The project is run in partnership by the Environment Agency and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to explore ways to reduce flood risk to communities in the Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor area. The project area is shown in red below.

Map showing study area the River Thames and surrounding area including Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor


Project stages

If you refer to the timeline below, you will see where we currently are. There are certain steps we have to take within each stage of the project, and your feedback along the way helps us move forward.

Timeline showing stages of the project. We are currently in the "shortlisting options" stage. The next stage is "proposing an option", which will be completed if there is a feasible and fundable option to reduce flood risk. After this, the project would progress to a Full Business Case submission.

Project objectives

Our project objectives are important as they help inform our decision making, see the circular diagram below for details.

• Reduce flood risk • Protect and enhance the natural environment and landscape • Minimise whole life carbon impacts and reduce carbon throughout the project lifecycle • Provide communities with greater resilience to climate change • Engage local communities as we develop the project • Develop proposals which are supported by local communities and stakeholders • Increase flood resilience and conditions that stimulate economic growth • Enhance and create recreational opportunities Work in partnership to create a great place for living

We will also need to consider other factors including:


Funding

The main source of funding for flood schemes is flood and coastal risk management grant-in-aid for projects provided by central government. This uses the estimated benefits and costs of a project to calculate how much government funding a scheme is eligible for. Government funding for managing flood and erosion risks depends on national priorities and how the project benefits compare with others around the country. Even with limited public funds, local projects can still happen if they are partly or fully funded by companies and organisations that benefit from the project. This is known as Partnership Funding(External link).


What happens next?

These proposals may vary from one place to another. In some locations they may only be able to reduce flood risk in smaller more frequent floods, whilst others may be able to reduce flood risk in larger, less frequent floods.

As part of our work to assess which of these options is most suitable, we will be carrying out the following activities

Our focus is to find a feasible and fundable option that reduces floor risk between Datchet and Hythe End. Moving forward we will be doing more work to assess the options, which includes: • Reviewing your feedback to assess the level of support for the options • Continued discussions with the Community Liaison Group and other stakeholders • Looking for other sources of funding by talking to stakeholders who would benefit from the project • Carrying out environmental studies and considering opportunities to enhance public spaces • Investigating ground conditions (e.g. how groundwater moves in the local area) • Carrying out technical studies of the options on a location-by-location basis including more detailed flood modelling Preparing designs and estimating the costs and benefits of the options


There are a number of technical challenges that will need to be addressed

Groundwater/Water Quality

Stock image of a hand under running water

We need to look in more detail at groundwater to assess the impact of these proposed options on groundwater conditions and flood risk. We need to check designs to ensure that they would be effective whilst also protecting water quality




Technical and social restrictions

Stock aerial photograph of a river flooding a town

In some locations there will be limitations on the space available to work in. Consequently, there are likely to be particular challenges when working adjacent to properties to restrict impacts on residents.

In other locations, there could be challenges with size of foundations, archaeological findings and challenging ground conditions, including old landfill sites. We will also need to gain agreement with all landowners where construction is proposed.


Economics

Stock image of a sand timer and three stacks of coinsWe would need to gain funding and approvals, which is likely to include funding above what is available through Central Government Funding. The project also needs to demonstrate good value for money. For the project to go ahead it will need both funding and approvals. Approvals will include planning permission, environmental consents and landowner agreements

Further investigation into these options doesn’t guarantee they will happen. More research will need to be carried out to ensure they are possible to deliver. We already know that any approach will be expensive and could be difficult to fund.


Remember, it is not possible to protect against every flood, but we are determined to reduce the risk of flooding and explore how the necessary funding can be secured.


Find out more about the project:

The project is run in partnership by the Environment Agency and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to explore ways to reduce flood risk to communities in the Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor area. The project area is shown in red below.

Map showing study area the River Thames and surrounding area including Datchet, Horton, Wraysbury and Old Windsor


Project stages

If you refer to the timeline below, you will see where we currently are. There are certain steps we have to take within each stage of the project, and your feedback along the way helps us move forward.

Timeline showing stages of the project. We are currently in the "shortlisting options" stage. The next stage is "proposing an option", which will be completed if there is a feasible and fundable option to reduce flood risk. After this, the project would progress to a Full Business Case submission.

Project objectives

Our project objectives are important as they help inform our decision making, see the circular diagram below for details.

• Reduce flood risk • Protect and enhance the natural environment and landscape • Minimise whole life carbon impacts and reduce carbon throughout the project lifecycle • Provide communities with greater resilience to climate change • Engage local communities as we develop the project • Develop proposals which are supported by local communities and stakeholders • Increase flood resilience and conditions that stimulate economic growth • Enhance and create recreational opportunities Work in partnership to create a great place for living

We will also need to consider other factors including:


Funding

The main source of funding for flood schemes is flood and coastal risk management grant-in-aid for projects provided by central government. This uses the estimated benefits and costs of a project to calculate how much government funding a scheme is eligible for. Government funding for managing flood and erosion risks depends on national priorities and how the project benefits compare with others around the country. Even with limited public funds, local projects can still happen if they are partly or fully funded by companies and organisations that benefit from the project. This is known as Partnership Funding(External link).


What happens next?

These proposals may vary from one place to another. In some locations they may only be able to reduce flood risk in smaller more frequent floods, whilst others may be able to reduce flood risk in larger, less frequent floods.

As part of our work to assess which of these options is most suitable, we will be carrying out the following activities

Our focus is to find a feasible and fundable option that reduces floor risk between Datchet and Hythe End. Moving forward we will be doing more work to assess the options, which includes: • Reviewing your feedback to assess the level of support for the options • Continued discussions with the Community Liaison Group and other stakeholders • Looking for other sources of funding by talking to stakeholders who would benefit from the project • Carrying out environmental studies and considering opportunities to enhance public spaces • Investigating ground conditions (e.g. how groundwater moves in the local area) • Carrying out technical studies of the options on a location-by-location basis including more detailed flood modelling Preparing designs and estimating the costs and benefits of the options


There are a number of technical challenges that will need to be addressed

Groundwater/Water Quality

Stock image of a hand under running water

We need to look in more detail at groundwater to assess the impact of these proposed options on groundwater conditions and flood risk. We need to check designs to ensure that they would be effective whilst also protecting water quality




Technical and social restrictions

Stock aerial photograph of a river flooding a town

In some locations there will be limitations on the space available to work in. Consequently, there are likely to be particular challenges when working adjacent to properties to restrict impacts on residents.

In other locations, there could be challenges with size of foundations, archaeological findings and challenging ground conditions, including old landfill sites. We will also need to gain agreement with all landowners where construction is proposed.


Economics

Stock image of a sand timer and three stacks of coinsWe would need to gain funding and approvals, which is likely to include funding above what is available through Central Government Funding. The project also needs to demonstrate good value for money. For the project to go ahead it will need both funding and approvals. Approvals will include planning permission, environmental consents and landowner agreements

Further investigation into these options doesn’t guarantee they will happen. More research will need to be carried out to ensure they are possible to deliver. We already know that any approach will be expensive and could be difficult to fund.


Remember, it is not possible to protect against every flood, but we are determined to reduce the risk of flooding and explore how the necessary funding can be secured.


Find out more about the project:

Page last updated: 10 Oct 2024, 11:52 AM