New homes in poorer areas face undue flood risk

The Grantham Research Institute has reported that a disproportionate number of homes built in disadvantaged neighbourhoods over the past decade will end up in high flood-risk areas.

The research examines how new houses built in England and Wales between 2008 and 2018 are likely to be impacted by flood risk in 2050. It found that the proportion of new homes facing a high flood risk is likely to increase more in disadvantaged neighbourhoods than in affluent areas by that year, whilst new homes built close to the River Thames in London, the River Trent in Yorkshire and the Humber and along estuaries in the east of England could become ‘hotspots’ for high flooding risks if little is done to increase adaptation measures.

Over the last decade, more than 120,000 new homes in England and Wales were built in flood-prone areas. The researchers say an increase in mortgage defaults and foreclosures in affected areas is also likely, which could have a negative effect on property prices and investment in already-disadvantaged areas.

Swenja Surminski, who led the study, said:“Flooding is actually the one sort of natural hazard where we actually have quite a few options in terms of managing it. The key thing is what can you do to protect your own home.

“There are more community-level things like urban drainage, or making sure flood protection is adequate. There are nature-based solutions too, like planting more trees.

“We know that climate change is already having an impact, but that this will also increase going forward. It really is important that people also understand what this means in terms of where they live.

“Some people might actually have financial means to protect their homes, but for others in poorer areas, they will have to rely on government support and their council. We just need to be careful that we’re not creating huge social inequalities of climate change.”