14-02-2008
New homes approved in flood risk areas
News by Adfero for Simply Business - independent providers of public liability insurance, business finance, landlord insurance, buy-to-let mortgages & commercial mortgages.
The UK's Association of British Insurers (ABI) has announced a new call for stronger regulations in the area of house planning.
Without a change in the current regime, the ABI believes that a number of new homes could, in the future, become not only uninsurable, but also uninhabitable - with owners unable to sell due to the fact that planning has been approved for them in flood risk areas.
"The government's ambitious housing plans are in jeopardy unless we reduce the flood risk," said Justin Jacobs, assistant director of property for the ABI, a UK-based trade association.
"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."
Mr Jacobs made his comments at a conference for Architects' Journal.
In its statement, the ABI confirmed that one third of the government's planned development of three million new dwellings could be located on floodplains.
Under the government's plans, these new homes are to be constructed by 2020.
