Review launched into extreme flash flooding that hit London in July

A car drives through deep water on a flooded road in The Nine Elms district of London on July 25, 2021 during heavy rain

(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

An independent review has been launched into flash floods that caused chaos and left a trail of destruction across London in July.

Flood waters poured through the streets and seeped into homes, shops and restaurants in various parts of the capital as it was hit by extreme storms from July 12 to 25.

A month’s worth of rain fell in three hours, with fourteen flood alerts implemented for most of the capital and some neighbouring counties.

The London Flood Review, commissioned by Thames Water, will investigate why areas of the capital experienced serious flooding and how it can be prevented in the future.

Thames Water is a large private utility company which is responsible for the public water supply and waste water treatment in most of Greater London.

Following the storms, furious Kensington and Chelsea residents and politicians criticised leaders at Thames Water after dozens of people were forced out of their homes due to the flooding which caused millions of pounds worth of damage.

The firm’s director of corporate affairs George Mayhew apologised for the company’s “unacceptable” response to people whose homes were ruined and agreed that it had been implementing “band aids” for years instead of finding a permanent solution to the problems.

Mike Woolgar, a leading water strategist and chair of the review, said: “The extreme flooding London experienced this past summer is likely indicative of events we may see more of under climate change.

“Flooding like this is frightening for those affected and the mess, losses and damages for so many people underlines just how important this review is.

“I look forward to bringing my experience and that of my fellow Review Group members to establish how and why the flooding occurred so we can help ensure the capital’s drainage systems are as resilient as possible in the face of our changing weather patterns.”

Thames Water Retail Director Warren Buckley added: “Ensuring that our network can operate and minimise the risk of future flooding needs to now become the collective new focus for all organisations involved in London’s water network and drainage systems.

“While we can’t prevent every flood from happening, we know that we can do better and we must invest in resources today in order to build greater resilience tomorrow.

“This independent review will be at the heart of driving future improvements at Thames Water, and we hope it will also prove valuable for all authorities with surface water management responsibilities.”

The final report will be presented at a public session in the first half of 2022.

The flooding caused chaos in London with some of the capital’s streets under water and the fire service receiving more than 1,000 calls about flooding on July 13.

Social media footage showed crews attempting to rescue stranded drivers who risked becoming submerged under rising water levels.

Floods of water flushed into Pudding Mill Lane DLR station at Stratford, creating whirlpools at ticket barriers.

In Worcester Park, a family was recued by firefighters in a dinghy when their car became trapped by the rising water.

Station closures due to flooding included Covent Garden, Edgware Road, Gants Hill, Kennington, North Greenwich, Pudding Mill Lane, Stepney Green, Stockwell and Surrey Quays stations.

Many roads in London were shut by the severe weather, including the Blackwall Tunnel, sections of the North Circular and the A12.