New research from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership assesses whether planning practice delivers protection from flooding for 100 years in Somerset, UK, a region with significant and diverse flood risk. It also examines the role of insurance as a safety net when planning fails. The research compares two planning regulation frameworks for flooding, both fluvial flood risk and surface water flood risk exploring how they affect the probability of flood protection and insurability for new developments. The study further explores and considers the adaptive capacity of stakeholders and the effect of this on flood risk outcomes at the property level. The study identifies the factors that drive the exploration to flood risk and the impacts of failing to address these, noting that the Government will introduce Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act in 2024. Schedule 3 will provide a legislating framework for approving and adopting Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new development. The research suggests that this may address some of the key challenges highlighted in the study.
Click here to read the full article from The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership’s (CISL)
Comparatively, this news article explains how Hull’s flood defence schemes have proven effective after heavy rainfall in July and August 2023. Demonstrating how Hull has proactively improved its approach to flood risk management since the floods of 2007 and 2013 by creating the Living with Water partnership and implementing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and Flood Alleviation Schemes.
Click here to read the full news article from Hull CC News.