This quarterly series of experimental official statistics is released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It presents information about certificates on the energy efficiency of domestic and non-domestic buildings in England and Wales that have been constructed, sold, or let since 2008, and of larger public authority buildings recorded since 2008.

Figures are drawn from 2 datasets on the Energy Performance of Buildings Registers:

• Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for domestic and non-domestic properties covering England and Wales
• Display Energy Certificates (DECs) for buildings occupied by public authorities in England and Wales

Statistics cover the period from 2008 to date, with an aggregate level breakdown by England and Wales, by regions, local authority, by property and tenure types.

The tables show data from certificates lodged on the Energy Performance of Buildings Registers since 2008, including average energy efficiency ratings, energy use, carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs, average floor area sizes and numbers of certificates recorded.

On the live tables a new set of data tables on existing dwellings alone has also been added.

More details about regulatory context and data quality are in Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates: notes and definitions.

Feedback

These experimental official statistics are still subject to evaluation and testing. They are being published on account of their immediate value and we welcome interested parties to become involved in their development.

We would especially like to hear from users about how the information is accessed and used, so that we can better meet your needs. Please complete our short survey and let us know how we might make our statistics more useful.

We are considering reducing the frequency of this statistics release from quarterly to half yearly. If you have views on this or on the statistical release more generally, please contact us. You can contact us at EPBStats@communities.gsi.gov.uk and tell us briefly how you use the information, and how it makes a difference to your work.

This is part of a collection of fees sheets.

Fees charged for applications relating to manufacturers and wholesale dealers of veterinary medicines, including inspections as set out in schedule 7 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.

Operators with an environmental permit must complete waste returns to tell the Environment Agency about the waste they have received or removed from their site.

The Environment Agency uses this information to:

• monitor a site’s compliance with its environmental permit conditions
• compile national statistics about waste

How to complete your waste return

You can complete your return in 1 of 3 ways:

1. Use the Generic Operator Returns spreadsheet to upload or enter your data.
2. Email your waste returns spreadsheet.
3. Request a paper form from the Environment Agency – call 03708 506 506 (see call charges) or email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

Deadlines for submitting waste returns

Quarterly returns

Yearly returns

You can use the GOR online system spreadsheet to compile your data in XML format for uploading directly into the online GOR system.

To ensure the spreadsheet works properly please save it to your device before you complete it.

If you cannot submit your return online you can email it using the Waste returns spreadsheet for email returns.

The Thames Barrier is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. The Environment Agency runs and maintains the Thames Barrier as well as London’s other flood defences.

You can follow us on Twitter @AlanBarrierEA or read our gov.uk blog posts. or like our Facebook page

Forthcoming scheduled closures

The Environment Agency operates the Thames Barrier every month for maintenance and testing. Once a year, they also test the barrier at a high spring tide (normally September or October). They may begin closing and re-opening the gates up to an hour before the times listed below.

• Thursday 11 October 2018 9:15am to 11:45am
• Tuesday 13 November 2018 9:35am to 12.05pm
• Thursday 13 December 2018 9:45am to 12:15pm
• Thursday 10 January 2019 9:05am to 11:35am
• Monday 11 February 2019 10:10am 12:40pm
• Tuesday 12 March 2019 9:45am to 12:15pm
• Tuesday 9 April 2019 9:55am to 12:25pm

Very occasionally, the Environment Agency may need to change or cancel a closure at short notice. Please call the Thames Barrier to check: 020 8305 4188.

Forecasting closures

The Environment Agency receives information on potential tidal surges from weather satellites, oil rigs, weather ships and coastal stations. They can forecast dangerous conditions up to 36 hours in advance, and will close the barrier just after low tide, or about 4 hours before the peak of the incoming surge tide reaches the barrier.

They get information from a range of mathematical computer models that forecast expected sea and river levels. This is supplemented by data from the Met Office and real-time information provided by the UK National Tidegauge Network. This hydrological and meteorological data is fed into the control room every minute from a wide network of tide, river, pressure and wind gauges.

The decision to close, or not, is based on a combination of 3 major factors:

• the height of the tide (usually a spring tide) measured at the Thames Estuary
• the height of the tidal surge, which naturally accompanies each tide
• the river flow entering the tidal Thames, measured as it passes over Teddington Weir

Find up-to-date data for river and sea levels at the Thames Estuary and Teddington Weir.

The barrier has no individual trigger level for closure. The closing process is guided by a mathematical matrix that considers the river flow, tide and surge at the time. The final decision for closure lies with the Thames Barrier Duty Controller.

How the Thames Barrier works

The Thames Barrier spans 520 metres across the River Thames near Woolwich, and it protects 125 square kilometres of central London from flooding caused by tidal surges. It has 10 steel gates that can be raised into position across the River Thames. When raised, the main gates stand as high as a 5-storey building and as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. Each main gate weighs 3,300 tonnes.

The barrier is closed under storm surge conditions to protect London from flooding from the sea. It may also be closed during periods of high flow over Teddington Weir to reduce the risk of river flooding in some areas of west London including Richmond and Twickenham.

The Thames Barrier will then remain closed over high water until the water level downstream of the Thames Barrier has reduced to the same level as upstream. This is a managed process to provide for different circumstances, and takes about 5 hours. The Thames Barrier is then opened, allowing the water upstream to flow out to sea with the outward-bound tide.

You can watch a video that shows how the Thames Barrier works:

a video of how the Thames Barrier works

Thames Barrier closures

The Thames Barrier has been closed 182 times since it became operational in 1982 (correct as of February 2018). Of these closures, 95 were to protect against tidal flooding and 87 were to protect against combined tidal/fluvial flooding.

If you have an enquiry about the Thames Barrier, or would like to receive a project pack, email: kslenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

The future of the Thames Barrier

The Thames Estuary 2100 plan sets out how flood risk will be managed in the Thames estuary to the end of the century and beyond. It also recommends what actions the Environment Agency and others will need to take in the short term (the next 25 years), medium term (the following 15 years) and long term (to the end of the century).

The plan is based on current guidance on climate change, but is adaptable to changes in predictions for sea-level rise and climate change over the century.

More information can be found on the Thames Estuary 2100 page .

Visiting the Thames Barrier

The centre has an additional conference room and improved outdoor seating area, which allows the Environment Agency to offer more availability for group talks and conferences. This new room has additional cover for winter group talks. For more Information call 0208 305 4188.

Thames Barrier price list
Thames Barrier Information Centre price list 2018
(PDF, 137KB, 1 page)

Thames Barrier conference rooms leaflet
Thames Barrier conference rooms leaflet
(PDF, 1.79MB, 2 pages)

The Environment Agency is currently upgrading the disabled lift, and the lift is out of service as of 4 September 2018 meaning there is restricted access to the Café. However, entrance to the Information Centre downstairs and toilets is still possible.

Please check opening times.

• Please note that the Information Centre and Café will be closed on 18 October 2018 due to uninspected maintenance occurring on the roads around these facilities.

This webpage will be updated once the new lift is completed. The Environment Agency apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

Group talks

Once a month you can pre-book onto guided tours at the Thames Barrier
Booking form 2018
(PDF, 151KB, 3 pages)

. Please note, due to security, there is no access onto the Thames Barrier structure itself. It is not suitable for children under the age of 5. This offer is not available to groups over 5 people.

You can now book a group tour with afternoon tea
Thames Barrier group talk and afternoon tea 2018
(PDF, 385KB, 1 page)

.

On the first Sunday of each month you can pre-book onto a guided group talk.. Due to popular demand, there is the option to add a vintage cream tea to your group talk with no minimum numbers.

Guided group talk and entrance to the information centre only £6.50 PP (approx one and half hours)
Guided group talk and cream tea £19.50pp (approx two and half hours)

Full payment is required in advance when you call to book your date. To book, email thamesbarrierenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk or call on 0208 305 4188.

You can also arrange larger group visits (for more than 5 people) by filling in this
Booking form 2018
(PDF, 151KB, 3 pages)

and emailing it to thamesbarrierenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.