New Environment Agency report forecasts 43% rise in properties at risk of flooding
- Written by
Stephanie Hendries- Published
- December 19, 2024
By 2050, as many as eight million properties in England - nearly one in four - could be directly threatened by flooding, according to a new report by the Environment Agency.
In its evaluation of the potential impact of climate change on flooding, the Environment Agency (EA) highlighted the growing risks posed by more intense rainfall and rising sea levels.
Currently some 6.3 million homes and businesses are at risk of all types of flooding. The EA considers flooding from three main sources: rivers, the sea and surface water - where heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage systems. The figure is up from 5.5 million in the last assessment from 2018.
When it comes to surface water alone, the EA has forecasted a 43% increase in the total number of properties at risk.
In response to today's report, Floods Minister Emma Hardy acknowledged that "too many communities are exposed to the dangers of flooding".
"That is why we have committed £2.4 billion over the next two years to maintain, repair and build flood defences to protect communities across the country," she said.
Dapeng Yu, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Previsico said: “Surface water flooding, the most common cause of flooding, is often caused by intense rainfall exceeding the capacity of drainage systems, presenting a complex and increasingly common threat as weather patterns grow more unpredictable and severe.
As weather patterns become increasingly uncertain, it is imperative to have early flood forecasting solutions for society, especially for surface water, to drive a proper flood resilience strategy for businesses and communities, combining with other resilience measures such as flood defences.
Emerging technologies, including more accurate weather forecasts, live hydrodynamic flood modelling capabilities, and IoT monitoring systems, offer unprecedented opportunities to enhance flood forecasting and risk assessment. Leveraging these innovations can deliver actionable insights that support proactive decision-making, safeguarding lives, properties, and infrastructure in the face of a rapidly changing climate.”