July 2021 flooding

In the event that your home or business is flooded, follow advice on what to do from the Environment Agency.

Section 19 Flood Investigation Report

We undertook a statutory investigation, known as a Section 19 Flood Investigation, into the major flood events on the 12th and 25th July 2021 to ensure that future incidents are mitigated and responded to as effectively as possible. This includes the London Flood Review published by Thames Water.

Read the Section 19 Flood Investigation Report:

Document

Section 19 Flood Investigation Report - July 2021 flooding PDF, 13.88 MB, 37 pages

Public meeting and Section 19 investigation, 30 July 2021

We hosted an online public meeting with Thames Water for residents and businesses affected by recent floods on Friday 30 July. The recording of the meeting can be viewed here:

We received over 100 questions during the event, and have compiled answers to questions that were not answered during the meeting. 

Please read an FAQ from the council and Thames Water for further information and support.

Read a letter from Cllr Melvyn Caplan about the next steps:

Document

Cllr Caplan letter on flooding public meeting PDF, 147.39 KB, 2 pages

Extraordinary Scrutiny Meeting, 30 September 2021

Westminster City Council’s Finance, Smart City and City Management Policy and Scrutiny Committee held extraordinary meeting on 30 September to investigate the flooding which occurred in parts of the city on 12 July 2021. The Committee analysed the flood events, the responses of the parties involved and the impact on the community.

Please note, the meeting was not able to handle specific casework requests and will instead focus on the causes, the response and the impact on the community. If you have a specific case, please contact your ward Councillor. The Committee used questions submitted as a basis for the debate to take place. Please also note that the council held a public meeting on the subject on 30 July 2021 and a number of questions were posed at this meeting. Read a summary of the responses to those questions from the council and Thames Water.

Investigation duty

We have a duty to investigate flooding when it is 'necessary and appropriate' (Section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act).  

When we notice or are informed about flooding events, we then decide whether to undertake a flood risk investigation. We are likely to investigate where:  

•  property has been flooded inside on more than one occasion. 

• five or more properties have been flooded inside during a single flood incident. 

• critical infrastructure has been affected by flooding. 

• the source of flooding is ambiguous. 

The investigation identifies which Risk Management Authority (for example, Westminster City Council or the Environment Agency) has a flood risk management function in relation to the flood. It then details what each authority with a relevant function has done or must do in response to the flooding incident.