Bricks & Water roundtable 4: Is our approach to flooding working?

10.00 - 12.00pm

Following on from the WSBF's Bricks & Water report, this policy roundtable will look at flood risk to housing in England, and how this risk to the economy and people’s lives can be reduced.

Chair: John Grogan MP. Flooding incidence has increased 15-fold since 2005 according to the IPPR. There has been a 4% increase in the number of homes built in the highest flood risk areas (Flood Zone 3) in the past three years. This session will look to answer:

  • 67% of home owners don't know their flood risk - how can we make the public better informed and prepared?
  • Is Flood Re working, or has it created a series of perverse outcomes?
  • What role does catchment management have to play in reducing flood risk?
  • How many of the targeted 1.5 million new homes built by 2022 will be built in areas of high flood risk?
  • According to the EA 30% of the 1.5 million new homes planned in the CaMkOx corridor are planned to be built on flood plains - is this a problem?
  • What are the costs of new build housing flood resilience and water efficiency, and who should bear it if the developer is unable to past it on through higher house prices?
  • As the ultimate holder of flood risk, how much liability is the taxpayer willing to accept?
  • If it is so terrible to be flooded (hassle, lost personal possessions and PTSD), why do only 6% of people then defend their homes from future flood risk?
  • Why is uptake of property resilience measures for flooding so low?
  • Should we invest more in natural flood defences?
  • What role can farmers and other land manages play in conveying flood water across a catchment?
  • How much would making all necessary houses flood resilient cost?
  • How much would a 'Property Resilience Certificate' cost per house, and would it help householders?

Speakers: 

  • Andy Russell, Committee on Climate Change
  • Graham Brogden, Aviva Insurance
  • Daniel Johns, Anglian Water

Please contact jim.clark [at] policyconnect.org.uk (subject: WSBF%20behavioral%20change%20event) (Jim Clark) to register your interest.