Mews House,
The Brief
RIDA Reports Ltd was appointed to undertake a detailed flood risk assessment for a proposed development at Mews House, located at 8 Glenthorne Mews, Hammersmith (W6 0LJ). The project required a technical environmental evaluation to seamlessly manage the site’s flood constraints and ensure the safety of its occupants over the development’s design life.
Why the Client Chose RIDA
Securing planning permission in areas that require complex emergency planning necessitates a precise understanding of local frameworks. The client needed a specialist consultancy capable of delivering a site-specific evaluation in accordance with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. RIDA was selected for its proven expertise in providing the exact technical evidence and evacuation strategies necessary to seamlessly support planning applications.
The Challenge
A core challenge for this site—situated approximately 430m from the River Thames—was to demonstrate that the new development could ensure life safety during an extreme weather event. The assessment required meticulous planning to guarantee that future occupants could safely exit the property in the event of a severe flood warning without being cut off by rising floodwaters.
The RIDA Difference
RIDA conducted a comprehensive flood risk assessment, evaluating the site using Environment Agency data and local strategic flood risk guidelines. To directly address the life-safety threat, RIDA proactively mapped out a verified emergency evacuation route. This ensures occupants can safely egress by following Glenthorne Mews up to Glenthorne Road, then continuing via Dalling Road, Paddenswick Road, Goldhawk Road, Askew Road, and Old Oak Road to reach an area verified to be safely beyond the extent of flooding. Furthermore, RIDA formulated a formal Flood Warning and Emergency Response Plan, advising occupants to prepare a flood kit, sign up for Environment Agency alerts, and detailing specific actions for different warning levels to ensure timely and safe evacuation.
The Outcome
The detailed assessment successfully demonstrated that the proposed development could be safely accommodated at 8 Glenthorne Mews. By explicitly linking the flood risks to a verified safe evacuation strategy and robust emergency planning, RIDA ensured the development will remain secure over its design life. The comprehensive report provided the policy-compliant technical justification required to fully support the client’s planning application without increasing flood risk elsewhere.