Latest news with #floodrisk
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
What to do if your home is in one of Britain's expanding floodplains
As climate change accelerates and the weather becomes increasingly unpredictable, the risk of flooding across the UK is rising sharply. Around 6.3 million properties in England are now located in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water, according to the Environment Agency's most recent National Flood Risk Assessment (Nafra2). As flood risk maps are updated to reflect climate data and improved modelling, more people may find their homes reclassified as being in a floodplain. Here, Telegraph Money explains why flood zone designations are changing, what it could mean for you and the steps you can take to protect your home and finances. Why are flood zones changing? Are flood zone reclassifications becoming more common? What does it mean for your contents and buildings insurance? Are there any other financial implications? What to watch out for when buying a property What if I live in a flood-prone area? Why are flood zones changing? In recent months, the Environment Agency has introduced several major updates to its flood risk datasets and online mapping tools as part of the Nafra2 project. These updates reflect both changes in climate patterns and improvements in data and modelling to offer a more accurate picture of flood risk. Paul Smith, of The Strategic Land Group, said: 'As a result of climate change the UK is expected to get wetter, with more intense rainfall. This will change the pattern and frequency of flooding in comparison to what we have experienced before.' Babek Ismayil, chief executive and founder of home buying platform OneDome, added: 'Flood zones are updated as new environmental and meteorological data becomes available. Agencies like the Environment Agency reassess areas based on factors such as rainfall patterns, river flow, sea-level rise and changes in land use. 'As modelling becomes more accurate, properties that were previously seen as low-risk may now fall within areas recognised as having a greater flood threat.' Are flood zone reclassifications becoming more common? With climate change contributing to more extreme and unpredictable weather, the number of areas designated as flood risk zones is increasing, according to Andrew Boast, property specialist at SAM Conveyancing. He said: 'Rising sea levels, heavier rainfall and overwhelmed drainage systems lead to more areas being identified as floodplains.' Laura Xu, of climate risk analytics company Climate X, added: 'Development in greenfield or previously undeveloped areas can exacerbate surface water flooding. Together, these factors are making flood zone updates – and reclassifications – more common.' According to the Nafra2 data, one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by 2050. Blake Stephenson, the Conservative MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to ask what support will be provided to those who now find themselves living on a floodplain. Mr Stephenson said that updated flood zone data meant many of his constituents found their home categorised as being in a floodplain. What does it mean for your contents and buildings insurance? If your home is in a newly designated flood zone, it could affect your home insurance costs and coverage at renewal. Alex Parker-Walklate, chief insurance officer at Intelligent Insurance, said: 'Being in a floodplain might lead to flood exclusions, higher premiums or a larger excess, albeit most insurers also have their own flood modelling to determine which properties are most at risk of flooding.' Fortunately, the introduction of the Government's Flood Re scheme in 2016 means affordable contents and buildings insurance is available to many homeowners in flood-prone areas. However, this doesn't cover homes built since 2009 or blocks of flats with three or more residences. This is because Flood Re was designed to support existing homes, not encourage development in high-risk areas. If you're not covered by Flood Re and your home is now in a floodplain, it can be worth speaking to an insurance broker who can help you explore specialist cover options. Are there any other financial implications? As well as affecting the amount you pay for home insurance, being in a floodplain can potentially reduce your property's value and make it more difficult to sell your home. In its Financial Stability Report last year, the Bank of England warned of the risk to home values from extreme weather. It said: 'Reduced insurance availability and increased costs could pose further potential challenges to financial stability, by putting downwards pressure on house prices and exposing households and lenders to greater losses.' Mr Boast said: 'You must inform a potential buyer if any part of the property (whether buildings or surrounding garden or land) has ever been flooded, including if this affected the property's insurance premiums.' Securing a mortgage or remortgaging may also be more challenging if the property is now within a designated flood zone. 'Some mortgage lenders will not lend where the security property is located within a high flood-risk area. They may request a more detailed Flood Risk Assessment before they agree to lend to the borrower,' added Mr Boast. If you're struggling to get a mortgage, it's sensible to speak to a mortgage broker who specialises in flood-risk properties. They can connect you to lenders that may be more willing to offer you a mortgage, depending on your situation. What to watch out for when buying a property Before buying, it's crucial to check a property's proximity to rivers, streams or the coast and look for signs of past surface water flooding, which may suggest a higher reclassification risk in future. Poor drainage or frequent standing water after rain can also be indicators, according to Mr Ismayil. He said: 'Always consult the Environment Agency's flood risk maps and consider commissioning a specialist flood risk assessment during the conveyancing process. Areas with ongoing or planned flood mitigation projects may also signal recognised risk.' Mr Boast added: 'Search data can often flag flood risk within the local area; however, this doesn't specifically mean your property is affected. Investigate all evidence through searches, the sellers and your survey to decide whether to buy a property in a high flood-risk area.' You can check the immediate flood risk by using the online Environment Agency tool, as well as the long-term flood risk for areas in England by using the tool on the government website. What if I live in a flood-prone area? If your home is already in a floodplain or it's recently been reclassified, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk and impact of flooding. These include installing flood defences such as flood doors and air brick covers, raising electrical sockets and appliances such as washing machines and moving valuables and important documents to higher floors. Taking early action can help protect your home and may improve your chances of getting appropriate insurance and finance.
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Campaigners reach 'breakthrough' with council Poynton Pool tree plan
Campaigners fighting to save trees at a Cheshire beauty spot have said they have been told their alternative plan for the site is East Council wants to cut down up to 70 trees by Poynton Pool to reduce flood risk around the ornamental water feature, which dates back to about Friends of Poynton Pool have put forward an alternative plan which would see just one tree removed and has said there has now been a "potential breakthrough" with the council.A council spokesperson said it was in an open dialogue with the group, but the viability of any proposals "remains the responsibility of the council". Poynton Pool is an ornamental pond formed in the 18th century and is classed as a high-risk reservoir because of the amount of water it council said some trees had to removed as part of its legal requirements to maintain the plans was deferred by councillors at a meeting last year, and a study by the Environment Agency a few months later found the pool was significantly smaller than the council had previously estimated. One stump The Friends of Poynton Pool (FoPP) said the potential breakthrough came in a meeting between the group, Poynton Town Council and Cheshire East Council earlier this Chairman Mike Ellison said the group's proposal would require "minimal inspection and maintenance" and see just one beech tree stump and some vegetations said: "It also means the council will no longer be required to provide a costly carbon offset mitigation planting scheme at Walnut Tree Farm in Woodford."A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council, said the authority is continuing to speak to the group about the ongoing management and safety of the said: "The development and determination, including viability, of any final proposals to address the requirements of the Reservoirs Act, remains the responsibility of the council and their appointed qualified, professional team." See more Cheshire stories from the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Homes at former police station in Cleethorpes approved
Plans to build 21 homes at a former police station in Cleethorpes, despite flood risk concerns, have been Bannister of Land Developers (Lincs) Ltd proposes to convert the former station in Princes Road into 10 flats. Eleven houses would also be built on the former car East Lincolnshire Council officers had recommended refusal after an objection from the Environment Agency on tidal flood risk councillors approved it by 5-2 votes, on the grounds of regeneration of a brownfield site and that sufficient attempts had been made to come to a resolution over flood risk. The Prince's Road site in Cleethorpes was sold off after Humberside Police moved out in 2020 after almost 90 to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Anglian Water were also concerned about the proposals due to surface water run-off and the levels of some floors being below anticipated flood Hayden Dawkins questioned the major flood risk given the Princes Road side was on a hill."It's a typical situation where the Environment Agency goes against every development in Grimsby and Cleethorpes because we're in a flood zone," he said. Residents also raised concerns, with over a hundred people signing a petition against the Helen Lanfranchi said water "frequently pools" in the former police station's car said in the summer of 2021 most of it was covered by water."It remained for over three months with an infestation of flies with, understandably, a horrendous smell."The police and fire services said the empty site had attracted anti-social behaviour and the building had been broken into Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison said approval would generate money for the police that would be reinvested back into the Grimsby Evison said: "I really worry that if we don't get this through, what does that say to all the other developers in the area?" Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenville City Council hosts public input session for yearly budget review
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The city of Greenville held a public input session regarding their budget for the upcoming year, with city officials looking to spend roughly $118 million towards personnel spending. Officials aim to receive raises as well as improving staffing numbers for the fire and police departments. While this was the public's first and only opportunity to address the council, the only concern that was raised was in regards to the flooding risk in the town commons. 'I was here as an elected official back in 2016 when we had Hurricane Matthew, and we didn't see those floodwaters start to come up at the town commons,' Greenville mayor PJ Connelly said. 'So we do need to be mindful of that as we're making differences and changes down there at the town common.' Mayor Connelly also said that it is a credit to the city staff that more concerns were not raised about this year's budget. For more information, click on the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cleethorpes police station homes plan recommended for refusal
Plans to partly demolish a former police station to make way for new homes have been recommended for Prince's Road site in Cleethorpes was sold off after Humberside Police moved out in 2020 after almost 90 have proposed 21 homes, made up of ten flats and 11 at North East Lincolnshire Council cited flood risk concerns as the reason for the recommendation. The proposals have met with concerns from both Anglian Water and the Environment Agency over surface water run-off and some of the floors being below anticipated flood levels, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, However, documents submitted on behalf of the applicant, Paul Bannister of Land Developers (Lincs) Ltd, said this could be reduced by the introduction of measures such as a green space to absorb some surface approved, the oldest elements of the police station and its frontage would remain. A modern two-storey office building and parts that were kennels and garaging would be council's planning committee will decide on the application on Wednesday. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
