The Greater London Authority has published their latest assessments of flood risks across London. As the hot weather subsides, thoughts will turn to rain.
The new London Regional Flood Risk Assessment has been in development for some time before its final publication in March 2026.
For the London Borough of Lewisham there are some significant increases in the risks since the last formal assessment in 2018.
The increased risks include:
- Lewisham Town Centre
- Lee Green
- Deptford – Creek and riverside
Across London overall, high flood risk areas expanded driven primarily by surface water and tidal/fluvial risk increases.
It is worthy of note that Bell Green and Lower Sydenham are mentioned in the second part of the assessment. The river Pool has a confluence with the river Ravensbourne that is located near Catford Bridge, this flows onto Deptford Creek where the river flows into the river Thames.
The GLA have said that there has been no formal correspondence with Lewisham Council regarding the London Regional Flood Risk Assessment March 2026 (RFRA) and that the document was prepared in close cooperation with the Environment Agency, Transport for London, London Resilience, and Thames Water.
They say that all plan-making authorities must refer to it in the course of plan-preparation.
Lewisham Council’s strategic planners will have to incorporate these changes into their considerations of any plans submitted now. Perhaps this will trigger a review of the current baselines used by the statutory Lead Local Flood Authority? A more granular analysis of the risks to areas like Rushey Green in Catford maybe prudent. Only time will tell.
