Hounslow Council has approved its first Climate Change Resilience Plan, aiming to protect vulnerable residents, strengthen services and infrastructure, and prepare communities for extreme weather.
Hounslow Council has approved its first-ever Climate Change Resilience Plan, setting out how the borough will prepare for and adapt to the growing impacts of climate change while building a fairer, healthier and more resilient future for local communities.
The plan, approved by Cabinet at its September meeting on Tuesday 8 September, marks an important step in delivering the Council's Climate Emergency Action Plan 2026-2030. It focuses on helping residents, businesses, vital services and infrastructure adapt to the increasing challenges posed by rising temperatures, heatwaves, flooding, storms and other extreme weather events.
The plan has been shaped through engagement with residents, council staff and statutory resilience partners, helping to ensure it reflects local experiences, concerns and priorities.
Older people, disabled residents, young children and lower-income households are often more exposed to climate-related risks and less able to recover from their impacts. As such, the plan places a strong emphasis on reducing inequalities, protecting those most at risk and ensuring that every community is better prepared for the challenges ahead.
It also recognises that responding to climate change presents opportunities to create healthier neighbourhoods, support inclusive growth and improve quality of life across the borough. By investing in greener, more resilient places and helping communities adapt to future risks, the Council is aiming to create the conditions for local people and businesses to thrive.
The plan outlines how the Council and its partners will work to:
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Strengthen the borough's resilience to flooding, heatwaves, storms and other climate-related risks.
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Embed climate adaptation across council services and decision-making.
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Improve preparedness and response to extreme weather events.
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Support communities, businesses and organisations to adapt to future climate impacts.
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Protect residents most vulnerable to climate-related risks.
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Use climate resilience measures to support healthier neighbourhoods and sustainable growth.
Climate projections indicate that London can expect hotter summers, heavier rainfall and more frequent extreme weather events in the years ahead, with the effects already being felt across the borough.
The new plan sets out practical measures to help protect people, homes, infrastructure and essential services. These include improving flood preparedness, expanding greening and shade in public spaces, strengthening heatwave support for vulnerable residents, building climate resilience into new developments and infrastructure, and working with communities to improve preparedness for extreme weather.
The plan also seeks to address the wider impacts of climate change on everyday life. Extreme heat can affect people's health and wellbeing, disrupt transport networks, impact learning environments in schools and place additional pressure on public services. By acting now, the Council aims to reduce these risks and help communities remain safe, connected and supported as climate impacts become more severe and frequent.
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm at Hounslow Council said:
"Climate change is no longer some distant fear. It’s here and it’s happening all around us. We see it in the yellow of our tinder-dry parks, in the unprecedented heatwaves we’ve faced this summer, and in the drought that has come with them. And we know the worst is yet to come.
“Sadly, the impacts of climate change are felt greatest by those who most vulnerable, including older residents, disabled people, young children and families on lower incomes.
"It is our responsibility to plan for how we will protect our residents, support vulnerable communities and ensure our services, infrastructure and public spaces are ready for the future. We will play our small part in tackling climate change by reaching net zero by 2030, but we must prepare for the worst. I would like to thank everyone who helped shape this vital piece of work, which will help Hounslow meet the challenges of our changing climate."
During the development of the plan, the Council carried out workshops with residents, staff and resilience partners, followed by a public consultation on the draft document. The views of those who contributed have shaped the final plan which was approved by Cabinet.
The Climate Change Resilience Plan supports the Council's wider commitment to creating healthier communities, tackling inequalities, supporting residents to thrive and building a greener, more resilient future for Hounslow.
