Royal Docks Policy Unit: Thames Estuary 2100
What needs to be done to manage flood risk and adapt to rising sea levels in Royal Docks, one of 23 policy units in Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100).
Applies to England
Map centred on the Royal Docks policy unit boundary. This policy unit is to the north of the River Thames and includes areas of Stratford, West Ham and East Ham in the north, and the Royal Docks and London City Airport in the south. The Thames Barrier is located immediately to the south of this policy unit. The flood risk layer shows that, without the existing flood defences, there is a 0.1% or higher chance of flooding each year in parts of the policy unit, especially in the areas near the River Thames, River Lea in the west and River Roding in the east. In most of these areas, this risk is reduced by defences.
Description
The Royal Docks Policy Unit extends along the north bank of the Thames from Blackwall to the Barking Barrier. It includes areas of Stratford, West Ham, East Ham, the Royal Docks and London City Airport.
The policy unit stretches from the River Roding in the east to the River Lea in the west.
The councils responsible for this area are:
- London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
- London Borough of Newham
- London Borough of Redbridge
- London Borough of Waltham Forest
Use the Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100) map to view all the policy units.
Local areas at risk and types of flooding
The areas at risk of flooding include:
- extensive and established residential and industrial areas
- 3 Royal Docks
- schools
- care homes
- underground stations
- utilities
- emergency services
- London City Airport
This area is part of the Thames Gateway regeneration area. Future development in the flood risk area is likely to include additional homes.
In the Albert Island area, there is ongoing investment into transport infrastructure and business growth, but this will be restricted by the need for flood defences.
The types of flooding which could affect this policy unit include:
- tidal flooding from the Thames both upriver (west) and downriver (east) of the Thames Barrier – when the tide overtops flood defences
- surface water flooding – when heavy rainfall is unable to drain away
- surface water flooding from urban drainage sources
- a combination of these
Managing flood risk in this area
The Environment Agency uses the Thames Barrier to manage surge tide water levels. When the barrier is closed against high tides, there is a difference of up to 2 metres (m) either side of the barrier. To accommodate this difference in water levels, the flood defences downstream of the Thames Barrier are up to 2m higher than those upstream.
There are also flood walls along the Thames upriver (west) of the Thames Barrier to manage daily tide water levels and tidal flood defences downriver (east) of the Thames Barrier.
Floodgates on entrances to the docks at King George V lock and Gallions lock sluice are also used to mitigate flooding. We will replace these with new structures when the existing flood gates reach the end of their life. There may be a limit to the number of gate closures and other flood mitigation measures may be needed. These include raising the quay levels or closing the docks, or part of the docks, to navigation.
There are 4 combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to reduce flooding from urban drainage.
The Environment Agency also uses flood alerts and flood warnings to inform people about potential flooding so they can take appropriate action.
Sign up to receive flood warnings in your area.
Flood risk management policies for this area
Thames Estuary 2100 sets flood risk management policies for each area of the estuary. The policies range from P3 to P5 and outline how we should manage that area’s tidal defences.
In this area a P4 policy applies.
This means we will take further action to keep up with climate and land use change so that flood risk does not increase. We will need to work with other risk management authorities to do more to manage flood risk.
Find out more about flood risk management policies.
Local requirements: who needs to do what
Tidal flood defence owners
By 2040, tidal flood defence owners downstream (east) of the Thames Barrier should:
- work with the council, developers and local infrastructure providers to adapt defences and achieve multiple benefits through proposed development
- work with the Environment Agency to raise defences where required
By 2050, tidal flood defence owners upstream (west) of the Thames Barrier should:
- work with the council, developers and local infrastructure providers to adapt defences and achieve multiple benefits through proposed development
- work with the Environment Agency to raise defences where required
For further information read outcome 2: improving fixed flood defences.
Local councils
There is currently no riverside strategy for this area. By 2030, councils should work with communities to plan how their riverside will look in future.
Find out more about the riverside strategy approach.
Thames Water
Thames Water will work with the Environment Agency to ensure that discharges from Beckton Sewage Treatment Works do not impact water quality as a result of more Thames Barrier closures.
Thames Estuary Partnership
The Thames Estuary Partnership will work with communities, councils, the Environment Agency and other partners to update the Thames Strategy East. This landscape vision for the river corridor will include a riverside strategy approach to tidal flood defence upgrades.