Planners must place less emphasis on 鈥渜uick fix鈥� engineering solutions to flooding in the Thames Gateway or face disaster, according to a report by the RIBA.

The report urges 鈥渁n approach that is more adaptive, flexible and sensitive to our changing environment鈥�.

It suggests measures such as the creation of lagoons in Essex, and the acceptance of occasional freak floods.

The report notes that climate change poses an increasing threat of flooding from rising sea levels, wetter winters and more frequent and powerful storms.

The RIBA鈥檚 report says the problem does not have 鈥渁 quick, technical fix鈥� as a reliance on tidal defences and drainage systems would be 鈥渃atastrophic鈥� if they failed.

It also emphasises the importance of a strong clear planning system, noting that there now appears to be little integration or co-ordination between masterplans and local development frameworks.

The report, which was written by the RIBA鈥檚 黑洞社区 Futures think tank, is called Living with Water: Visions of a Flooded Future.