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SE16: Rotherhithe, Surrey Quays, Canada Water, Bermondsey @se16.com · 20/12/2024

The council is planning to spend £425k clearing excess reeds and vegetation from Albion Channel

Albion Channel is a water channel which is approximately 650m long connecting
Canada Water to Surrey Water. The Channel runs through a residential area
predominately surrounded by flats. The current overgrown state impacts on the
ability of the water to flow along the Channel increasing the possible risk of localised
flooding.
Albion Channel is referenced in the London Borough of Southwark draft Local Flood
Risk Management Strategy 2023 – 2029. As an ordinary watercourse, Albion
Channel is the responsibility of the Lead Local Flood Authority – Southwark council.
This project will improve the environment along Albion Channel and ensure that the
channel can cope with flood water drainage. The location of the Channel means
access is very restricted which makes carrying out maintenance and dredging
difficult and time-consuming owing to constraints on plant equipment size/capacity
and elongated distances to be covered for waste removal.
For the project to be carried out efficiently, the water level in the Channel with require
lowering to allow for the easier removal of excess reeds and vegetation, including
root mats and silt. Lowering the Channel water level has fewer hurdles whilst the
water level in Canada Water is temporarily lowered as part of redevelopment works
in the vicinity. This allows for draining the Channel without needing to consider inflow
into the Channel from Canada Water. Officers will work to ensure minimum impact
on ecology during the works, to ensure the completed project will deliver improved
ecology outcomes in this area. Bringing the Channel back into a state of active
ecological management provides opportunities to engage local community groups
and environmental organisations with the stewardship and long-term future of this