An examination of flood resilience in London Borough of Southwark

This paper examines the flooding resilience of the London Borough of Southwark, and the extent to which resilience concepts are incorporated into local flooding management practices. With climate change causing shifts in the global pattern of flood events combined with rapid urban population growth, the importance of cultivating urban resilience is widely recognized by researchers and practitioners alike. This study develops a Flood Resilience Index (FRI) inspired by the CORFU project, based on natural, physical, economic, social, and institutional attributes of the borough. Secondary data from the Legatum Institute Prosperity Index and the Thriving Places Index were used to allow for replicability and comparison with the rest of the UK. Results derived from the FRI revealed that Southwark’s low levels of flooding resilience stem from a combination of natural vulnerabilities, compounded by urban challenges including housing poverty, lack of green space, and limited social capital. By locating the gaps in flood resilience and crossexamining these gaps in light of Southwark Council’s flooding management strategy, this study contributes to the understanding of urban flood resilience and provides a framework for evaluating resilience in other urban areas.