Construction boom in flood-prone areas: One out of every thirteen new homes erected within flood-zones
In England, a concerning number of newly-built homes face a high risk of flooding. According to recent data, approximately 8% of these homes, equivalent to 109,017, are situated in areas with a high flood risk. One in eight new build residents have reported experiencing flooding inside their homes, while 26% have experienced water leaks and 16% have suffered flooding issues in their gardens.
Jason Storah, the chief executive for UK & Ireland general insurance at Aviva, has expressed his concerns over this situation. He emphasized the importance of building houses that are climate-ready and able to withstand the multiple impacts of climate change. Mr. Storah stated that many newly-built homes have already suffered a flood within five years of construction.
Current regulations and recommendations for building homes in flood zones in England require strict management of surface water drainage and flood risk. These include avoiding placing surface water drainage features in areas at risk of flooding, implementing a 'SuDS approach' to manage runoff during extreme rainfall events, ensuring surface water runoff from developments does not increase flood risk elsewhere, and requiring any flooding from surface water drainage systems to be managed within the development. Flood Risk and Drainage Assessments must be submitted with all planning applications, demonstrating the consideration and integration of a full range of SuDS techniques appropriate to the site.
Government-supported flood defence projects, such as embankments and flood storage areas, aim to reduce flood risk for homes in vulnerable areas. The UK Government is investing significant funds to enhance flood defences nationwide and is consulting on improving funding distribution to support this effort. Most recently, updates to the Environment Agency’s Flood Map for Planning service include “Flood Zones plus climate change,” enhancing the information available for planning decisions in flood risk areas.
However, these newly built homes are not covered by the Flood Re insurance scheme and may lack flood resilience. In addition, nearly 110,000 new homes have been built in flood zones, a fact that Mr. Storah finds alarming. He suggests strengthened rules to prevent the development of buildings in current and potential flood zones, and making flood resilience mandatory in planning rules in low-lying areas.
As the impact of extreme weather conditions continues to increase, it is crucial that new homes are constructed with better flooding protection. This is not only to protect the homes themselves but also to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents who will live in them. The government's ongoing investments in flood defence projects and updated flood risk mapping, as well as the implementation of stricter planning policies, are steps in the right direction towards achieving this goal.
[1] Source: GOV.UK - Planning Practice Guidance: Flood risk and coastal change [2] Source: GOV.UK - Flood and coastal defence funding [3] Source: GOV.UK - Flood and coastal defence funding: 2026 to 2027 [4] Source: GOV.UK - Flood Map for Planning service updates [5] Source: GOV.UK - National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
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