The Mayor of London has launched a 10-year plan to tackle sewage, restore habitats and make more of London’s rivers safe and accessible for the public.
The Clean Rivers and Waterways plan will focus on 10 locations where work can deliver the fastest benefits for communities, wildlife and climate resilience.
London has more than 600 kilometres of rivers and waterways but none are currently assessed as being in good condition.
Five times more sewage entered the capital’s rivers in 2023 than the year before, while misconnected household pipes, discharge the equivalent of 1.8 Olympic-sized swimming pools of polluted water every day.
The plan brings together more than 50 organisations including boroughs, water companies, charities and community groups.
Over the next decade, they aim to stop sewage and other pollution entering rivers, increase water quality testing and restore 550 hectares of habitat and 80 kilometres of river.
The programme will also seek to improve conditions for fish and wildlife, reintroduce beavers and water voles where suitable and create a new riverside walking route across London.
Some waterways could also be made clean enough for swimming and other recreational use. The plan is backed by £1.8 billion of partner funding over five years.
Sadiq Khan has pledged a further £2.7 million for blue and green restoration projects over the next three years, on top of £13.55 million already committed to London’s waterways. Around £1.25 million will support work around the River Wandle, Grand Union Canal, Lower Lea, Royal Docks and Lower Roding.
A further £1.48 million will fund large-scale urban rewilding projects in Redbridge and Hillingdon. Priority areas include the River Brent catchment, Upper and Lower Lea valleys, River Roding, Wandle catchment and Lower Crane Valley.
Projects will cover sewage pollution, restored wetlands, natural drainage, new riverside routes and better public access.
The GLA said access to nature should not depend on where people live or their background.
The plan also supports London’s wider response to extreme heat by expanding access to blue spaces as summers become hotter.
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