The Growing Threat of Flooding

Flood risk is a major problem for millions of homeowners. A new strategy to make homes more resilient and improve flood management is welcome news. Yesterday, the Environment Agency set out a plan to better protect and prepare millions of homes and businesses in areas prone to flooding. The Agency estimates that more than 5.2 million properties in England are already at risk. Climate change will likely increase this number, with more extreme weather expected, including summer temperatures up to 7.4°C hotter and 59% more rainfall by 2050. The new Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy outlines steps to tackle the problem over the next decade.

Key Measures for Flood Protection

The strategy includes several measures to enhance flood protection:

• Expanded flood warnings by 2022 to cover all at-risk properties, reaching an additional 62,000 families.
• Increased investment in natural flood management schemes to protect communities, tackle climate change, and create new wildlife habitats.
• Greater promotion of property flood resilience measures to help homeowners recover more quickly.
• Stronger collaboration with national road, rail, and utilities providers to improve flood resilience and benefit the public.

Funding for Flood Protection

Alongside the new strategy, the government has announced a significant funding commitment:

• £5.2 billion allocated for flood protection through 2027.
• An additional £200 million for resilience measures in 25 areas across the country.

Reforms to the Flood Re Insurance Scheme

There will also be reforms to the Flood Re insurance programme, a government-backed scheme that provides affordable insurance for high-risk homes. The proposed changes include:

• Discounted premiums for households that install flood resilience measures, such as airbrick covers or non-return valves.
• Claims payments to include extra funds to help homeowners rebuild in a more flood-resilient manner.

Preparing for a Future with Increased Flooding

These new initiatives are crucial as climate change makes widespread flooding more frequent. Strengthening flood protection and resilience measures will help homeowners better prepare for future risks.

Learn More About Protecting Your Home

For more information on how to protect your home from rising floodwaters, check out our blog on this topic here.