Keeping the Environment Agency’s biggest flood relief project on track

The scheme covers the stretch of the River Thames between Egham and Teddington. It is a project of national importance because of its scale, ambition and complexity. It will involve creating over eight kilometres of new flood channel and increasing the capacity of three weirs.

Once complete, the scheme will reduce the risk of flooding for more than 11,000 homes, 1,600 businesses and vital infrastructure. These are areas that have experienced serious floods in the past. It will also bring environmental and community benefits, including more green spaces, new walking and cycling routes, and improved biodiversity.

The project recently entered the Development Consent Order (DCO) phase. This is a formal planning process designed to make the approval and delivery of major infrastructure simpler and more efficient.

There is a lot of work to do to make sure the DCO process runs smoothly. We have been brought in to help the Environment Agency improve how it manages the overall programme.

Our role is to give project leaders clear, reliable data and plans, so they can make smart, well-informed decisions. This will help keep the scheme on time, on budget and focused on delivering long-term benefits to local communities.

Steven Hayter, Director for Infrastructure Project Management at Currie & Brown and interim PMO lead for the scheme, says:

“Digital technologies are changing the way we manage complex projects. They help us plan more accurately, manage costs clearly and spot risks earlier. For the River Thames Scheme, we have supported the Environment Agency by developing integrated programme controls to address sector-specific challenges such as regulatory compliance, stakeholder coordination and environmental risk. Our expertise in schedule, risk, and data management ensures the team can monitor progress in real time, respond quickly to emerging issues, and maintain robust governance throughout delivery. We are proud to be helping the team through this next crucial phase.”

Our approach improves how the whole project team works, including:

• Planning
  Everyone involved can see what needs to be done, how things are progressing and what it will cost. Schedules are logic driven. If a contractor is delayed, the impact is automatically reflected in the timeline and budget.
• Financial management and cost control
  Real-time cost data helps commercial managers track spending accurately and stay in line with contract agreements.
• Risk and opportunity management
  Many projects use average data to model risks. Our system uses real project data, giving a much clearer picture of the risks involved.
• Change control
  A single dashboard shows all project changes. We have also created a clear process for sharing updates and their impact with everyone involved.
• Health and safety
  All health and safety data, from both suppliers and the Environment Agency, is brought together in one place. This helps project managers monitor safety across the full project.

We are also helping to bring teams together and improve knowledge sharing. This includes working on site with client teams and running regular sessions to share lessons learned. From our work with organisations like Network Rail, Forth Ports and DEFRA, we know that getting people on board with new systems early makes a real difference. It builds trust, improves relationships and lifts team performance in a measurable way.