DEVELOPMENT IN FLOOD RISK AREAS

Early day motion 94, tabled 15 November 2006 by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative). Signed by 104 members.

That this House notes the findings of the research by the Environment Agency which shows that around five million people in two million properties live in flood risk areas in England and Wales; warns that the risk of both inland and coastal flooding in these areas will increase as a result of increases in the frequency of extreme weather events and sea levels rising due to climate change, which could increase the number of properties at risk from flooding to 3.5 million; highlights the fact that claims for storm and flood damage in the UK have doubled to over £6 billion over the period 1998 to 2003; is concerned that more new developments are being situated in floodplains; and calls on the Government to take a more strategic and holistic approach to flood management and water supply by strengthening existing legislation concerning developments on flood plains, avoiding building new developments in high flood risk areas, ensuring that no new development goes ahead in at-risk areas unless it incorporates measures to mitigate the impact of flooding and devolving power over flood defences as closely as possible to community level.

Signatures by party: Conservative 83, Liberal Democrat 15, Labour 3, DUP 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.