FINWIRE®

Action plan to restore London’s ‘lost’ and neglected rivers

January 14th, 2009

London Rivers Action Plan (LRAP) aims to restore London’s rivers to their natural state, creating a more sustainable city. It will also help reduce flood risk and improve the environment for all.

The London Rivers Action Plan was released on January 8th. This plan was produced in partnership by the Greater London Authority, Environment Agency, Natural England and voluntary organisations including the Thames Rivers Restoration Trust, London Wildlife Trust and WWF UK.

London Rivers Action Plan (LRAP) aims to restore London’s rivers to their natural state, creating a more sustainable city. It will also help reduce flood risk and improve the environment for all.

The aim is to restore 15 kilometres of Thames tributaries by 2015, on rivers such as the Roding, Wandle, Colne and many others.

River quality in the River Thames has improved greatly since the industrial revolution. But many of London’s rivers were built into heavily engineered channels to combat flooding and enable urban development.

Today’s aspiration has changed. The partners of the LRAP want to create a more natural environment to adapt to climate change and a growing city.

Isabel Dedring, Director of Environmental Policy for the Mayor of London, said: “This plan will deliver aesthetic benefits but will also help us prepare for our changing climate. Restoring our rivers will play a part in making London a more attractive place for people to come to live and invest.”

As well as the action plan, the main tool will be an interactive website at www.therrc.co.uk/lrap.php, maintained by the River Restoration Centre, which will contain a database of opportunities to work in partnership on river restoration, advice and information, as well as best practice examples.

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