Sadiq Khan brings together government, businesses, charities, and community groups to secure new investment for cleaning up the capital’s waterways.

Over £1.8 billion will be invested over the next five years by the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL), London Wildlife Trust, and Thames Water to protect and improve river health.

City Hall announces £7 million in new funding to tackle pollution from road runoff, reduce flood risks, promote large-scale rewilding, and support nature projects.

A new survey reveals that Londoners from lower-income backgrounds and Black and Asian communities are less likely to visit natural spaces.

A major initiative to restore London’s waterways

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is bringing together key partners to tackle long-standing damage to London’s rivers and deliver vital new funding to restore them.

Today (Thursday, March 13), Sadiq is hosting a groundbreaking roundtable discussion with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Thames Water, charities, businesses, and campaigners—all committed to transforming the capital’s rivers over the next decade. His plans are supported by multi-BAFTA-winning TV presenter and conservationist Steve Backshall MBE.

The Mayor is also announcing a £7.15 million investment from City Hall and TfL to help prevent road runoff pollution from entering rivers and reduce flood risks. Runoff pollution occurs when rain washes harmful substances—such as oil, pesticides, and bacteria—into rivers, severely degrading water quality, harming aquatic life, and limiting recreational use. The new funding will support large-scale rewilding projects and provide grants from the Green Roots Fund to community groups, charities, and other organizations working on nature-based river restoration projects.

Major investments for river health

Thames Water is also committing more than £1.8 billion over the next five years to improve river health in London. This investment will fund a program to address 26 sewage overflow sites along the Roding, Wandle, Lee, and Brent rivers, building on the work of the Tideway project, which has now activated its 25km tunnel to reduce sewage pollution.

Additionally, the London Wildlife Trust has pledged £800,000 over the next two years to support river and nature recovery projects in local communities across the city. The trust will collaborate with the Mayor to ensure these environmental enhancements benefit both people and wildlife, aligning with Sadiq’s Green Roots Fund, which helps councils and community groups create green spaces such as tree-lined areas, wildflower meadows, and parklets.

Restoring wildlife to London’s rivers

Recent efforts have successfully reintroduced beavers to Ealing and Enfield, while a new water vole restoration project, led by the South East Rivers Trust on the Hogsmill River, is helping secure a stable future for water voles along the river’s length. Sadiq hopes these initiatives mark the beginning of a broader ecological revival, bringing back species such as otters, eels, mayflies, and other native wildlife to London’s rivers.

Ensuring equal access to nature

The Mayor is determined to ensure that all Londoners—regardless of income or background—have equal access to the city’s waterways. While London’s rivers and natural spaces offer an important escape, new research highlights inequalities in access. Only 25% of Londoners believe their rivers are clean and healthy, and those from lower-income and Black or Asian communities are significantly less likely to visit natural spaces.

The survey also found that Londoners are deeply concerned about the state of their rivers, citing sewage pollution, plastic waste, and wildlife decline as their top environmental concerns.

To help Londoners engage more with waterways, the Mayor launched the London Open Water Swimming Guide last September, providing information on outdoor swimming locations. Progress has already been made in areas like Southwark, where residents can now take part in open water swimming sessions at Greenland Dock near Canada Water.

With this unprecedented coalition and investment, Sadiq Khan is aiming to restore London’s rivers to a healthier state—making them cleaner, more accessible, and richer in biodiversity for future generations.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s rivers have been neglected and damaged for far too long, with shameful levels of pollution entering our rivers in recent years. I’m pleased to be working with a coalition of partners across the sector on a major plan to turn things around.

“We have made great progress in cleaning our air in London, and I’m committed to doing the same with our rivers. Together we can make our rivers something that every Londoner can be proud of as we continue to build a greener, fairer, better London for everyone.”

Baroness Sue Hayman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “London’s rivers are vital for people and wildlife, and I welcome the Mayor’s efforts to clean them up. This supports the Government’s commitment to improving waterways nationwide for the environment and communities.

“This work will build on the decisive action already taken by this government through our landmark Water Act – placing water companies under tough special measures, banning bonuses for polluting water bosses, and enforcing tougher criminal charges for those who break the law.

“This is alongside securing £104 billion in private sector investment to upgrade our infrastructure, drive economic growth, and create thousands of jobs.”

Explorer, TV presenter and author Steve Backshall MBE said: “I’ve enjoyed kayaking on the Thames for more than 25 years but the scale of river pollution, especially in recent years, is nothing short of shocking. 

“I strongly believe that our waterways should be something that our country is proud of, so I’m delighted that the Mayor of London is taking ambitious action to improve the capital’s waterways. Sadiq’s investment and dedication will help unlock the full potential of London’s rivers for people of all backgrounds to enjoy, and support wildlife too.”

David Mooney, CEO of London Wildlife Trust, said: “London Wildlife Trust is proud to stand alongside the Mayor in a coalition dedicated to improving London's waterways.

“For too long, our rivers have been treated like open sewers, and this roundtable presents a crucial opportunity to change that. With an initial commitment of over £800,000, we will be working closely with the Mayor over the next three years to support nature’s recovery along our precious waterways.”

Andy Lord, TfL’s Commissioner, said: “Protecting the environment is fundamental to everything we do. Being part of this roundtable signals our clear support and commitment to fulfil the Mayor’s ambition to clean up the capital’s waterways. Any pollution into London’s waterways is completely unacceptable and one of the biggest ways we’re making a difference is to reduce road run-offs. We are reducing polluting vehicles on roads and encouraging greener, more sustainable journeys by walking, cycling or using public transport.

“At the same time, we remain committed to preventing pollution from our operations and construction activity. Delivering sustainable drainage systems is key to reducing run-off on London’s roads into rivers and lower the capital’s flooding risks. Our proposed funding and this collaboration between partners will only amplify the work that we do to tackle river pollution, improve river quality, protect the ecosystem and boost London’s biodiversity.”

Chris Weston, CEO of Thames Water, said: “Like our customers, we care deeply about our rivers.  Our sewage works upgrades, the Lee Tunnel and Thames Tideway Tunnel are already protecting the tidal Thames and reducing sewage discharges by 95%.

“Today marks the start of the next phase of improvements with a £1.8bn investment programme that shifts the focus from the Thames to its tributaries and includes a major new programme to reduce sewage overflows on the Roding, Wandle, Lee and Brent. 

“We’re committed to the Mayor’s ambition for partnership working and I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new £20m fund for environment and community groups, whose work and insights are having such a positive impact on the health of our rivers.”

Danielle Obe, Chair and co-founder of the Black Swimming Association (BSA), said: “We are delighted that this coalition is coming together to clean the capital’s rivers and bring Londoners closer to nature.

“Despite the fact that in London people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as well as people in Black and Asian communities are less likely to visit the city’s natural spaces, 19% of people across the country living within 10-15 minutes’ walk (1km) from a blue space or waterway are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

“Cleaning up these bodies of water is the first major step towards safely introducing these communities to outdoor water based activities and ultimately practicing water safety.”

Andy Mitchell, CEO of Tideway, said: “We’re delighted to see the legacy of the Tideway project being built upon as part of this ambitious plan for London’s rivers. The Thames is already seeing a remarkable transformation thanks to the super sewer, which has now captured more than six million tonnes of sewage that would have previously polluted the river.

“Now, with this new investment, the future of the Thames – and all of London’s waterways – is looking even brighter. By protecting and improving river health, we are ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment for both people and wildlife for generations to come.”        

Navdeep Deol, Chair of the National Park City Foundation and London National Park City, said: “Whether through litter picking and clean ups, citizen science research, nature walks, sports, new beavers and voles, arts and crafts - more people across London are working together to make our blue spaces cleaner, healthier and wilder.

“London's many waterways touch all of us and connect communities and neighbourhoods across the capital providing invaluable corridors for wildlife. 

“Our collective work to protect, restore and celebrate these waterways is an urgent priority.”

Tony Burton CBE, Acting Chair of Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust, said: “London owes so much to its rivers and the Clean and Healthy Waterways Plan provides the opportunity to recognise this and invest in their future.

“We are committed to bringing local councils, government agencies, charities, community groups and others together to help the wonderful Wandle, celebrate public access along the Wandle Trail, and realise the potential of this green corridor for the benefit of all Londoners.”

Lars Weiss, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, said: “Copenhagen knows the power of investing in clean water. Transforming our harbor from industrial use to a vibrant recreational area has revitalized the city, offering immense benefits for citizens’ communities, leisure, and economic growth.

“Mayor Khan’s initiative to transform London’s rivers will not only enhance biodiversity and public health but will also strengthen resilience in the face of the climate crisis.” Photo by Nigel Cox, Wikimedia commons.