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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Sandra Laville

More than 100,000 homes in England could be built in highest-risk flood zones

A resident of Moorland is rescued from her home during flooding in Somerset.
Experts say building on areas at risk of serious flooding should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/Alamy

More than 100,000 new homes will be built on the highest-risk flood zones in England in the next five years as part of the government’s push for 1.5m extra properties by the end of this parliament, Guardian analysis suggests.

Building on areas with the highest risk of serious flooding is supposed to be discouraged. Experts say development should be avoided unless absolutely necessary because there is a significant chance of regular deluges, which will flood the properties, cause hundreds of millions of pounds of economic damage and make homes uninsurable.

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