Association of British Insurers: Homes on Flood Sites ‘Unsaleable, Uninsurable, Uninhabitable’

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) warned that government plans to construct new homes on flood plains have not given sufficient consideration of the hazards involved.

Justin Jacobs, the ABI’s Assistant Director of Property, speaking at the Architects Journal Conference, stated: “The Government’s ambitious housing plans are in jeopardy unless we reduce the flood risk. In the last year 13 major developments have been given the go ahead despite Environment Agency advice on the flood risk. Where a local authority plans to ignore flood risk advice, the Government should step in and review the proposals and be compelled to publish their decision.”

He reiterated that UK “insurers want to continue to provide flood cover, but poor planning decisions will lead to more homes becoming unsaleable, uninsurable and uninhabitable.”

The ABI called for “tougher planning controls”…”if flood insurance is to remain widely available for new homes.” It indicated that of the “three million new homes the Government plan to be built by 2020, a third will be on the floodplain.”

Source: Association of British Insurers – www.abi.org.uk