Dire straights

In England more than 600,000 properties face flooding in the future without investment in drainage, a report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has found. At the moment, 325,000 English properties have a 60% risk of flooding in the next decade. A combination of more extreme weather due to climate breakdown and increasing pressure on drains due to new developments is likely to push 230,000 more homes into the high-risk category for flooding by 2055. If more impermeable surfaces are built across England, this could move another 65,000 properties into a high-risk area.

The report advises that the government should legislate to stop new developments connecting to existing drains – to encourage uptake of sustainable systems – and calls for stricter controls on building in flood-prone areas, as well as a £12bn investment in drainage over 30 years.

Read at bit.ly/NIC_surfacewater

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