Flood Risks
Local flooding
Some local properties were flooded on 12th July 2021 as part of widespread surface water flooding across London, described by Thames Water as a “one in 179 year” event.
There was also flooding in Belsize Road in 2022 caused by a burst water main, as well as local surface water flooding in 2002 and 1975 (a “one in 20,000 years event”).
Who is responsible for preventing flooding?
Camden Council is responsible for preventing surface water flooding (i.e. flooding caused by rain). You can find advice about preparing for flooding, as well as Camden’s Flood Risk Management Strategy 2022 to 2027 here: https://www.camden.gov.uk/flooding
Thames Water is responsible for sewer flooding (i.e. where sewage enters your property) as well as flooding caused by burst water mains. Find out more here: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/sewer-flooding
What is being done to reduce the chance of more flooding?
Since 2021 Camden Council, Thames Water, the Environment Agency and the National Flood Forum have been working with the South Hampstead Flood Action Group (SHFAG). Together they have developed and are implementing an evolving South Hampstead Flood Risk Strategy.
As part of this strategy, with external funding, Camden has installed a series of flood prevention measures, including rain gardens and sustainable urban drainage schemes (SuDS) running down Goldhurst Terrace and at the corner of Belsize Road and Priory Road/Priory Terrace.
Funds have been secured for more SuDS and rain gardens in Fairhazel Gardens and Belsize Road. And proposals are being drawn up to obtain funds for a much more extensive flood protection project based on SHFAG's SuDS opportunity map.
In addition, Camden Council has been insisting that developers install effective measures to hold back storm water. For example, Landsec the O2 site developer has been forced to agree to achieve the ‘Greenfield Runoff Rate’ in all three stages of their development. Their original plan was to achieve seven times that rate!
Protecting your property
Hopefully our area won’t be flooded again. However, more frequent and more severe rainstorms are predicted.
People living in below ground-level flats may be wise to install property flood resilience measures such as self-closing air bricks, flood barriers/doors and pumps. (N.B. you may need planning permission for some of these measures, such as flood doors and flood gates.)
Guidance prepared in 2023 for South Hampstead by Warwick York (funded by Camden Council) recommends ways you can reduce the chance of your property being flooded:
Link to Documents
The National Flood Forum’s ‘Blue Pages’ Flood Directory recommends some trusted flood protection companies you can approach (sadly there are cowboys out there): https://bluepages.org.uk
‘Flood Mary’ also suggests some cheap ways to protect your property in an emergency: https://floodmary.com
What you can do to prevent more flooding
There are lots of ways you can help to prevent more local flooding, including:
Contacting SHFAG
For more details about local flooding action email: [email protected]
Disclaimer
These webpages on flooding been written by SHFAG to share information to the best of their knowledge. Please do not rely on them, but seek advice from independent flood protection specialists such as the ones recommended by the National Flood Forum.
CRASH supports SHFAG but has not evaluated and verified the advice and information in this section. CRASH accepts no responsibility for the contents of these webpages.
April 2026.
Some local properties were flooded on 12th July 2021 as part of widespread surface water flooding across London, described by Thames Water as a “one in 179 year” event.
There was also flooding in Belsize Road in 2022 caused by a burst water main, as well as local surface water flooding in 2002 and 1975 (a “one in 20,000 years event”).
Who is responsible for preventing flooding?
Camden Council is responsible for preventing surface water flooding (i.e. flooding caused by rain). You can find advice about preparing for flooding, as well as Camden’s Flood Risk Management Strategy 2022 to 2027 here: https://www.camden.gov.uk/flooding
Thames Water is responsible for sewer flooding (i.e. where sewage enters your property) as well as flooding caused by burst water mains. Find out more here: https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/sewer-flooding
What is being done to reduce the chance of more flooding?
Since 2021 Camden Council, Thames Water, the Environment Agency and the National Flood Forum have been working with the South Hampstead Flood Action Group (SHFAG). Together they have developed and are implementing an evolving South Hampstead Flood Risk Strategy.
As part of this strategy, with external funding, Camden has installed a series of flood prevention measures, including rain gardens and sustainable urban drainage schemes (SuDS) running down Goldhurst Terrace and at the corner of Belsize Road and Priory Road/Priory Terrace.
Funds have been secured for more SuDS and rain gardens in Fairhazel Gardens and Belsize Road. And proposals are being drawn up to obtain funds for a much more extensive flood protection project based on SHFAG's SuDS opportunity map.
In addition, Camden Council has been insisting that developers install effective measures to hold back storm water. For example, Landsec the O2 site developer has been forced to agree to achieve the ‘Greenfield Runoff Rate’ in all three stages of their development. Their original plan was to achieve seven times that rate!
Protecting your property
Hopefully our area won’t be flooded again. However, more frequent and more severe rainstorms are predicted.
People living in below ground-level flats may be wise to install property flood resilience measures such as self-closing air bricks, flood barriers/doors and pumps. (N.B. you may need planning permission for some of these measures, such as flood doors and flood gates.)
Guidance prepared in 2023 for South Hampstead by Warwick York (funded by Camden Council) recommends ways you can reduce the chance of your property being flooded:
Link to Documents
- South Hampstead Flood Action Group -- Report on South Hampstead Flood Mitigation Advice and other property level protection measures following the floods of July 2021 -- by Warwick York Chartered Surveyors and Flood Consultants
- Flood Protection Guide -- by Warwick York Chartered Surveyors and Flood Consultants.
The National Flood Forum’s ‘Blue Pages’ Flood Directory recommends some trusted flood protection companies you can approach (sadly there are cowboys out there): https://bluepages.org.uk
‘Flood Mary’ also suggests some cheap ways to protect your property in an emergency: https://floodmary.com
What you can do to prevent more flooding
There are lots of ways you can help to prevent more local flooding, including:
- Reporting blocked drains to Camden Council: https://www.camden.gov.uk/report-street-issue
- Ensuring the surfaces in your garden are permeable: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/permeable-surfacing-of-front-gardens-guidance/guidance-on-the-permeable-surfacing-of-front-gardens
- Installing a rain planter or water butt connected to the drainpipe that runs down from your roof.
- Never putting oils, gravy and food down your drains and anything other than toilet paper into your toilet (e.g. bin wet wipes, nappy liners, sanitary products, cotton wool, condoms, dental floss etc): https://www.thameswater.co.uk/help/water-and-waste-help/blockages/bin-it
- Signing up for Met Office weather warnings: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/subscribe-to-email-alerts
- If heavy rain is predicted, ensuring the pavement, roadway and gullies near you are clear: don’t put your rubbish and garden waste out on the pavement and use Camden’s “Love Clean Streets’ app to get fly tips removed.
Contacting SHFAG
For more details about local flooding action email: [email protected]
Disclaimer
These webpages on flooding been written by SHFAG to share information to the best of their knowledge. Please do not rely on them, but seek advice from independent flood protection specialists such as the ones recommended by the National Flood Forum.
CRASH supports SHFAG but has not evaluated and verified the advice and information in this section. CRASH accepts no responsibility for the contents of these webpages.
April 2026.
| gullies_south_hampstead.pdf |
