01/02/2005
ABI report warns of flood risk for new homes
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) have warned that planned government housing in the South East could be at risk from flooding.
The ABI report, 'Making Communities Sustainable', recommended that the government's plans to build over a million homes in the South East by 2016 need to take into account the risks from flooding and climate change.
The report found that a third of all the new developments are located in the floodplain, which could increase the annual costs of flooding in these areas by 74%. The ABI said that this would add £55 million to the annual flood bill unless effective steps were taken to manage the risk. The report found that up to 10,000 homes could potentially be located in areas with a high risk of flooding without proper planning.
However, the ABI said that a strong planning policy could help to reduce flood risks to "negligible levels" in Ashford, the M11 corridor and the South Midlands and by half in Thames Gateway.
The report made a number of recommendations to solve the problem, including; strengthening planning guidance; using appropriate flood risk assessments; targeting flood defence spending to vulnerable sites and using flood-resilient measures, such as raised living space and services, in homes built in the floodplain.
Nick Starling, the ABI's Director of General Insurance, said: "The government's plans for a step-change in housing supply are essential to the economic and social well-being of this country. But they present challenges. Our report shows that flood risk in the growth areas could be managed effectively by building on existing government policies and plans."
Minister for Planning, Keith Hill, welcomed the ABI's report and said: "Minimising flood risk is an essential part of creating sustainable communities. The government is committed to working with the ABI and the Environment Agency to ensure we get this right."
(KMcA/SP)
The ABI report, 'Making Communities Sustainable', recommended that the government's plans to build over a million homes in the South East by 2016 need to take into account the risks from flooding and climate change.
The report found that a third of all the new developments are located in the floodplain, which could increase the annual costs of flooding in these areas by 74%. The ABI said that this would add £55 million to the annual flood bill unless effective steps were taken to manage the risk. The report found that up to 10,000 homes could potentially be located in areas with a high risk of flooding without proper planning.
However, the ABI said that a strong planning policy could help to reduce flood risks to "negligible levels" in Ashford, the M11 corridor and the South Midlands and by half in Thames Gateway.
The report made a number of recommendations to solve the problem, including; strengthening planning guidance; using appropriate flood risk assessments; targeting flood defence spending to vulnerable sites and using flood-resilient measures, such as raised living space and services, in homes built in the floodplain.
Nick Starling, the ABI's Director of General Insurance, said: "The government's plans for a step-change in housing supply are essential to the economic and social well-being of this country. But they present challenges. Our report shows that flood risk in the growth areas could be managed effectively by building on existing government policies and plans."
Minister for Planning, Keith Hill, welcomed the ABI's report and said: "Minimising flood risk is an essential part of creating sustainable communities. The government is committed to working with the ABI and the Environment Agency to ensure we get this right."
(KMcA/SP)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
