Photo credit: www.theguardian.com

Concerns Mount as New Homes Planned in England’s Flood Zones

Recent analysis indicates that over 100,000 new homes are slated for construction in the most flood-prone areas of England within the upcoming five years. This is part of the government’s broader initiative to add 1.5 million housing units by the conclusion of the current parliamentary term.

Development in areas vulnerable to severe flooding is typically discouraged by experts, who argue that such projects should be approached with caution. This caution is primarily due to the substantial risk of frequent inundation, resulting in significant economic losses and potential challenges in obtaining insurance for affected properties. Evidence suggests that flooding can lead to damages totaling hundreds of millions of pounds.

However, the current push for increased housing, championed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, could lead to the establishment of tens of thousands of new homes in these high-risk areas unless a proactive governmental response is initiated.

Richard Dawson, a professor of earth systems engineering at Newcastle University and a member of the climate change adaptation committee, emphasized the consistency of current building practices. He noted that homes continue to be constructed in flood-prone regions at a steady pace.

According to the most recent report by the Climate Change Committee, 7% of newly constructed properties during 2020-21 and 2021-22 were located in areas identified as high flood risk, specifically termed zone 3. If this pattern persists, projections indicate that around 105,000 new homes will emerge in flood zone 3 by the end of the current parliamentary session.

Explore the flood zone 3 map here

Dawson raised concerns about the absence of new policy measures to curb this trend, suggesting that exceeding 100,000 homes in these flood-prone areas is plausible if the government’s housing target is realized.

The government recently allocated an additional £250 million towards flood defenses, supplementing a previously committed £2.4 billion, aimed at safeguarding an extra 66,500 properties.

Increased construction in flood-prone regions intensifies the challenges for local communities. Insurance professionals have advocated against further residential development in these areas. Some consultants specializing in flood risk have expressed doubts about the feasibility of Labour’s housing goals, citing the undeniable impacts of climate change on flooding patterns.

Jason Storah, CEO of UK & Ireland general insurance at Aviva, urged a restriction on the construction of new homes in flood-prone zones, highlighting that such developments exacerbate pressure on already overstretched flood defenses and drainage systems, which can lead to increased flooding risks for existing properties nearby.

Analysis of government housing targets reveals that the majority of new housing developments are concentrated in significant growth areas, such as London and the southeast. Overlaying this information with the national flood and coastal erosion risk assessment map demonstrates that these locales are already identified as having a high or medium risk of flooding from various sources.

The national flood risk assessment indicates that regions like the East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, and the southeast comprise 52% of England’s properties considered to be at risk of flooding. This data does not even account for future climate changes, pointing to a high probability of worsening flooding situations.

Daniel Cook, a chartered water and environment manager and flood risk consultant, acknowledged that although there are existing regulations, such as the national planning policy framework aimed at ensuring flood mitigation, the raw numbers associated with proposed housing growth can clash with the unavoidable realities posed by climate change.

“The increasing flood risk from multiple sources poses real challenges for achieving the ambitious housing targets set by Labour,” said Cook. He remarked on the need for informed decision-making based on available policies and data.

In an effort to accelerate the housing development process, Starmer and Reeves have suggested eliminating certain planning regulations that are still under consideration. The Chancellor believes that removing environmental regulations would allow developers to prioritize construction over environmental assessments, stating that focusing on ecological concerns would hinder timely housing solutions.

Dawson critiqued this approach, asserting that the existing procedures serve essential purposes in safeguarding lives and properties while minimizing flooding-related expenses. “Neglecting these principles in favor of unchecked development can prove detrimental,” he cautioned.

The climate crisis continues to exacerbate extreme weather patterns across the UK, as highlighted by Environment Agency data indicating that 6.3 million properties, both residential and commercial, are situated in at-risk areas for flooding.

By 2050, projections suggest that one in four possessions, including residential and business properties, could face flood risks, amounting to roughly 8 million properties. The Environment Agency anticipates a 73% increase in properties in high-risk flood zones from rivers and seas between 2036 and 2069.

Surface water flooding emerges as one of the rapidly escalating risks, with the Environment Agency documenting that 4.6 million properties are currently at risk—a marked 43% rise since the last evaluation in 2018.

Storah called on the government to implement a three-step evaluation in the planning process to ensure properties are equipped for climate-related challenges: appropriate site selection, the use of suitable materials, and incorporating resilience into designs from the outset.

Responding to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated, “We challenge these figures. Our stance is clear: no new development should take place in high-risk flood zones. The government is committed to maintaining rigorous flood protection standards while addressing the issues within the planning system to facilitate the delivery of 1.5 million new homes.”

While the government revised its planning policy in December 2024, the updated framework does not explicitly prevent development in the most hazardous flood-prone areas.

Source
www.theguardian.com