Following a meeting with local residents affected by flooding, Matthew has secured an agreement to develop a business case for a flood alleviation scheme for the Silk Stream in Colindale. This would be the first step in protecting houses and properties located in the Silk Stream catchment area.

Many properties have been prone to flooding for a variety of reasons, most recently as last summer when heavy rainfall led to a warning from the Environment Agency that people living along the Silk Stream should take appropriate action to protect their homes against flooding by surface water and river runoff. 

After the publication of a Parliamentary Question from Matthew, it has been confirmed that the Environment Agency is working with the Silk Stream project team to help them set out the options appraisal phase of the Silk Stream Flood Alleviation Scheme. This appraisal phase will identify if any options to reduce the flood risk to properties are viable. If options are produced an Outline Business Case will be prepared to take forward any viable proposals and further partnership funding will be sought.

The Silk Stream Flood Resilience Innovation Project is expected to receive approximately £6 million between now and March 2027 to investigate and deliver practical innovative actions. This project includes the testing and trialling of the use of thermo-sensors to investigate and identify the surface water ingress in the foul network. The Outline Business Case is expected to be presented to the Environment Agency by April 2022. 

Matthew said: “Flooding is a terrible event to occur in anyone’s home and I am pleased that many years of discussions have led to this first stage in the process for a viable scheme.

Every downpour brings dread for many people in Colindale and a scheme will prevent this. The Silk Stream is a wonderful green corridor in Colindale but it cannot be allowed to cause damage to homes and gardens when water levels rise. A viable flood scheme will be the answer to this.”